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MAP OF MONTEREY AND VICINITY. 



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History of the Celebration 



# 









FIKTIETH ANNIVERSARY 



dking 



o$$e$$ion of 



aiifornia 



Raising of tbe Jiniericdn flag at IHonterey, gal 



COMMODORE John Drake Sloat, U. S. N., 

JULY TXH, 1846. 

//^/fl? under the auspices of the Associated Veteratis of the Mexican War, assisted by the U. S. 

Army and Navy, the National Guard of California, the Sloat Monument Association, 

the California Pioneers, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Afasorts of 

California, Boards of Supervisors, Fraternal Societies, Public 

Schools, and Citizens of the State. 

I>eld at montmv, California, 3uly 7tb, i$<)6. 

Also of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Raising of the American Flag at San 
Francisco, California, July 9TH, 1846, by 

CAPTAIN JAMES B. MONTGOMERY, U. S. N., 

Commandiug the U. S. Sloop of War Portsmouth, 
HELD JULY 9TH, 1896. 

PRECEDED BY THE ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG AT SONOMA, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 14TH, 1S46, 

HELD SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH, 1896. 



Prepared by direction of the Committee appointed by the Associated Veterans of the 

Mexican War, approved and ordered printed. 

Comrades James Layton, Colonel Joseph Stewart and Charles Laiige. 



^^=^#1 




Oakland, Cal. : 

Carruth & Carruth Printers. 

1896. 



^f/F, 



vT 







VIEW OF DEL MONTE HOTEL, MONTEREY. 




JOHN DRAKE SLOAT, U. S. N., Rear Admiral (Retired). 

Boru in 17S:, at Goshen, New York. 

Midshipman, U. S. Navy, February 12th, 1800. 

Sailing Master, U. S. Navy, February 7th, 1S12. (He manceuvered the frigate "United States" under Commodore 
Decatur, when he captured the crack frigate " Macedonian," of the British Navy, October 25th, 1812, and received 
the thanks of Congress.) 

Lieutenant, July 24th, 1S12. (Commanded the schooner "Grampus," and suppressed Cofrecinas, the last of 
the West India pirates, in March. 1825, who was captured and shot.) 

Post Captain, February gth, 1S37. 

Commodore, November ist, 1843. (August 27th, 1844, ordered to command the Pacific Squadron, and on July 
7th, 1846, took possession of California and hoisted the American flag at Monterey. He located the Navy Yard at 
Mare Island, California, in 1S52.) 

Rear Admiral on the Retired List, August 6th. 1866. 

I)ied at Staten Island, New York, November aSth, 1867, aged 86 years, 



Tnitiatory Proceedings. 




r a regular meeting of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War hekl at 
their hall on O'Farrell Street, San 
Francisco, Cal.,ou Thursday evening, 
March 14th, 1S95, Major Edwin A. 
Sherman offered the following resolution : 

^* Resolved, That the Associated Veterans ot 
the Mexican War will celebrate the Fiftieth 
Anniversary' of the taking possession of Califor- 
nia and Raising of the American flag at Mon- 
terey by Commodore John Drake Sloat of the 
United States Navy on July 7th, 1846, the cele- 
bration to be held at that place on Tuesday, 
July 7th, 1896, and that a Committee of Ar- 
rangements of Three be appointed by the Pres- 
ident to carry this resolution into efifect." 

The resolution was unanimously adopted. 

The following named Comrades were ap- 
pointed as the Committee of Arrangements : 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Col. Joseph Stewart, 
and Col. Wellington C. Burnett, to which were 
also added ex officio President Major Sydney 
J. Loop and the Secretary, Capt. William L. 
Duncan. Subsequently, by reason of the con- 
tinued absence of Comrade Wellington C. Bur- 
nett in the East, Comrade Charles Lange was 
appointed in his place. 

In September, 1895, Major Edwin A. Sher- 
man, Chairman of the Committee of Arrange- 
ments, at his own expense paid a visit to the 
City of Washington,- to have a personal inter- 
view with Hon. H. A. Herbert, Secretary of the 
Navy, and to secure, if possible, several vessels 
of war to aid in the Celebration at Monterey. 

The hearty cooperation of the Secretary of 
War was promised and telegraphed through to 
the Secretary of the Association and read at the 
Annual Banquet on September 14th, 1895, the 
4Sth Anniversary of the triumphant entry of 
Gen. Winfield Scott and the U. S. army into 
the City of Mexico. 

The Sloat Monument Association of Califor- 
nia, composed mainly of Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War and Pioneers also took the following 
action on February 8th, 1896 : 

" On motion, it was unanimously resolved 
that this Association unite in the Celebration 
by the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, of the 50th Anniversary of the hoisting of 
the American flag at Monterey on the 7th of 
July next, and with such other organizations 
as may there be present on that occasion. And 
if there is time and opportunity, to make pro- 
vision for the laying of the Corner Stone of the 
base of the Monument on July 7th, 1896, by 
the Grand Lodge of Masons of California as a 
part of the Ceremonies to commemorate the 
raising of the American flag at Monterey by 
Commodore John D. Sloat of the U. S. Navy 
on July 7th, 1846." 

The Executive Committee of the Sloat Mon- 
ument Association being represented by Vice- 



Presidents Capt. Wm. L. Duncan, Col. Joseph 
Stewart, Secretary Major Edwin A. Sherman, 
Receiver Capt, Thomas G. Lambert and Rev. 
A. A. McAlister, U. S. N., the first three also 
being on the Committee of Arrangements of 
the Associated Veterans of the Mexican War. 

The delay in the passage of the bill in the 
U. S. Senate, making an appropriation of ten 
thousand dollars for the monument, being 
caused by the secret attack made by one George 
Edwards of the Bancroft History Company of 
San Francisco, upon the honored fame of Com- 
modore Sloat by false representations and 
slander, had rendered it difi&cult to proceed 
with the preparations for holding the celebra- 
tion, or for the laying of the corner stone of the 
elevated base of the monument. The passage 
of the bill by the Senate, however, gave encour- 
agement to the Committees of Arrangements 
of the Mexican War and of the Sloat Monu- 
ment Association. 

Lieut. J. Reynolds Landis, U. S. A., (aide de 
camp to General James H. Forsyth, U. S. A.,) 
having been appointed to select the location for 
the site of the Sloat Monument, in company 
with Capt. Gillett of the U. S. Engineers, Major 
Edwin A. Sherman, Secretary, and Capt. Thos. 
G. Lambert, Receiver of the Sloat Monument 
Association, proceeded to the Military Reserva- 
tion at Monterey, and immediately in front of 
the prolonged angle of Old Fort Mervine where 
an old iron gun is placed, and there on the 
axis of the hill overlooking the harbor and 
town of Monterey, located the site of the Sloat 
Monument. 

This having been done, the Committee of 
Arrangements renewed its communications 
with the War and Navy Departments for the 
preparations for the Celebration, they having 
previously given encouragement thereto as fol- 
lows : 



[Letter sent by order of Brig. Gen. James A. Forsyth, 
Commanding Department of California.] 

Headquarters, Department of Califor- 
nia, San Francisco, April 27th, 1896. 
Edwin A. Sherman, Chairman of Committee 
of Arrangements Associated Veterans of 
the Mexican War, Oakland, Cal. 

Sir: — Referring to your communication of 
of the 13th inst., addressed to the Department 
Commander, inviting him and command to at- 
tend the Semi-Centennial Celebration at Mon- 
terey, Cal., in commemoration of the American 
occupation of California and the raising of the 
American flag at that place, I am directed by 
the Department Commander to inform you that 
arrangements will be made for the presence at 
Monterey, on that occasion, of a light battery 
of artillery, which will be instructed to fire 
requisite salutes and take part in the ceremo- 
nies; that the necessary salutes will be fired on 



July 7th from San Diego Barracks, Alcatraz 
Island and the Presidio of San Francisco; that 
from the last-named post a salute will also be 
fired on July 9th, in commemoration of the 
first hoisting of the American flag thereat; and 
that your invitation to all the officers of the 
command to attend the ceremonies at Mon- 
terey has been communicated to them, with 
the request that all such as desire and contem- 
plate attendance on the occasion shall so sig- 
nify to these headquarters a list of the same, 
which, when received, will be furnished to you. 
Very respectfully, 

O. D. Greene, Asst. Adj. -Gen. 
Note— Two light batteries were furnished. 



[L,etter from Hon. H. A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy]. 

Navy Department, Washington, 
May 4th, 1896. 
W. A. M. 9336. 

Sir:— I have to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the 23rd ultimo, inviting me to 
attend the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniver- 
sary of the taking possession of California and 
the raising of the American flag at Monterey 
by Commodore John D. Sloat, of the U. S. Navy, 
and requesting that orders be sent from the 
Navy Department for the vessels now on the 
Pacific station, on the coast of California, to 
lend their aid in making the celebration a suc- 
cess. I have referred your request for the ves- 
sels to the commander-in-chief of the Pacific 
station, with the suggestion that he will direct 
one or more of the vessels under his command 
to assist at the celebration, provided the exi- 
gencies of the service will permit. 

I thank you for your kind invitation to be 
present at the celebration, and regret very 
much that my official duties will prevent me 
from accepting. 

Very truly yours, 

H. A. Herbert, Secretary. 

Mr. Edwin A. Sherman, Chairman of Committee of 
Arrangements Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, Oakland, California. 



[I,etter from Admiral Lester A. Beardslee]. 

U. S. Flag-ship Philadei-phia, 

May 20th, 1896. 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Chairman of 
Committee, etc., 12 12 Webster Street, Oak- 
land, Cal. 
Dear Sir: — Since my interview with you a 
few days ago it the Occidental Hotel, I have 
resolved to so modify my plans in regard to 
the movement of the flag-ship as to remove the 
then existing obstacle to her being in p'isition 
to take part in the ceremonies proposed by the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican Wa to be 
held at Monterey on the 7th of July. 

I therefore, ^vitll pleasure, accept the invita- 
tion conveyed in your note of the 8th inst., 
that I should act as one of the Chief Vice Pres- 
idents, — as the Chief Representative of the 
Navy, upon that day, and shall esteem it an 
honor so to do. 



Should there be any point which at this date 
you would wish to discuss with me, I shall be 
at the Occidental Sunday, the 24th, up to 2 
p. M. I can promise you troops and a band. 

I am, yours truly, 

L. A. Beardslee, U. S. N. 

P. S". — Should a call on Sunday not be con- 
venient, it is very seldom that I am not every 
day at the Occidental from 6 to 7:30 p. m., and 
I presume I shall be there at those hours for 
the week. 



[Letter of acceptance from William P. Toler, Esq., who 
was midshipman in the U. S. Navy, and present at 
the first raising of the American Flag at Monterey, 
Cal., by Commodore Jones, U. S. N., in Oc ober, 
1842, and lowered by him; and when Mr. Toler was 
aide-de-camp and Signal OfiBcer under Commodore 
' John I). Sloat, he was the one who actually hoisted 
the American flag on the Custom House at Mon- 
terey on July 7th, 1846. 

Oakland, May 22nd, 1896. 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Chairman Com- 
mittee of Arrangements Associated Veter- 
ans of the Mexican War. 
Dear Sir: — Please accept my thanks for 
your kind invitation to myself and family to 
attend the Celebration of the 5otli Anniversary 
of the taking possession of California and the 
hoisting of the American flag at Monterey, July 
7th, 1846, by Commodore John D. Sloat of the 
U. S. Navy, to take place at Monterey on July 
7th, 1896; and if my health at that time will 
permit me to be present, I shall take pleasure 
in renewing the act of hoisting the American 
flag at Monterey as requested. 
Very respectfully yours, 

William P. Toler. 



[Letter of John Drake Sloat, Jr., the grandson of the 
late Commodore John D. Sloat, U. S. N.] 

Wentzville, Mo., June 19th, 1896. 
Major E. A. Sherman, Chairman Committee, 
etc., 1212 Webster Street, Oakland, Cal. 

My Dear Major: — I wish to acknowledge 
your favor of the 7th inst., which contained 
your kind invitation to read the original proc- 
lamation of grandfather's at Monterey on the 
eventful day of the coming celebration. In- 
deed, were it possible for me to do so, I would 
consider it a high honor; but alas, ill health of 
the past two years and business reverses will 
compel me to forego participation in this event. 

Cousin Bayard must again do the honors on 
this occasion as in 1886, and I shall look on 
from a distance. Again let me thank you for 
the invitation, which I prize very highlv^, and 
which I will shortly have framed. If conven- 
ient I would be very much pleased to have your 
photo with your signature thereon to go with 
it. I trust I may some day have the opportu- 
nity to grasp the hand of the gentleman who 
has so nobly defended the name of my grand- 
father, and in person thank you for the great 
service done. 

With kindest regards, I am, sir, yours very 
respectfully, 

JNO. Drake Sloat. 



5 



Note. — His cousin, the oldest grandson of Comiiio- 
dore Sloat, Lieut. James Bayard Whittemore, who had 
been previously invited but waived in favor of his 
cousin, John D. Sloat, Jr., was then invited to ag'ain 
read the Proclamation as he did before on July 7th, 
18S6, which invitation was accepted, and he performed 
the duty. 



Letter of Acceptance of Rev. A. A. McAlister, Chaplain 
U. S. N.J 

Marb Island, March 26th, 1896. 
Gentlemen: — I thauk the Committee of 
Arraugements of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War for the kiud invitation to act as 
the Chaplain at the Fiftieth Anniversary of the 
raising of the American flag at Monterey by 
Commodore Sloat of the U. S. Navy. 

I highly appreciate the honor which you con- 
fer on me, and shall be happy to accept the in- 
vitation. 
Yours respectfully, 

A. A. Mc.\LiSTER, Chaplain, U. S. N. 
To Messrs. E. A. Sherman, Joseph Stewart, W. C. Bur- 
nett, Committee of Arrangements. 



[Letter of Acceptance of Rev. John H. Macomber, Chap- 
lain U. S. A.] 

Angel Island, Cal., June i6th, 1896. 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Oakland, Cal. 

Dear Major: — Yours received, and contents 
noted. In reply, permit me to say it will 
give me great pleasure to accept the honor of 
serving in the position of one ol the Chaplains 
at Monterey July 7th. I know of nothing now 
that would prevent me from being present on 
that historic occasion. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
John Harmon Macomber, 

Captain and Post Chaplain U. S. A. 

Note. — At the last moment he found that he could 
not be present and sent his regrets, and his place was 
supplied by Rev. O. E. Edmonson, U. S. N., Chaplain of 
the Philadelphia. 



[Letter from Mrs. Eliza Pittsinger, the Pioneer Poetess 
of California. She composed and delivered the 
Poem at the Celebration of the 4ulh Anniver.sary at 
Monterey, July 5th, 1SS6.] 

224 Green St., S. F., May 25, 1896. 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Chairman Com. 
of Arrangements Associated Veterans of 
the Mexican War, No. 1212 Webster St., 
Oakland, Cal. 

Dear Sir: — Your favor, inviting me to be- 
come your poet on the occasion of the forth- 
coming Semi-Centennial Celebration of raising 
the first American flag in California by Commo- 
dore Sloat is received, and in answer, let me 
a.ssure you it will give me great pleasure to 
comply with your request. I appreciate the 
honor, and will be on the classic ground of old 
Monterey on the 7th of July next, to carry out 
my own distinctive part of the programme. 

Sincerely yours, 

Eliza A. Pittsinger. 

Note.— This lady, though not in affluent circumstan- 
ces, but one of the early pioneer ladies of California, not 
only composed the poem for that occasion without 
charge, but insiste<l on paying her own fare and ex- 
penses to Monterey and return, and did so. 



[Letter from Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, widow of 
Gen. John C. Fremont. J 

Los Angeles, June 13, 1896. 

My Dear Sir: — I have to thank you and, 
through you, the Committee who invite me to 
be part in your interesting and historical hon- 
oring of the raising of our flag in Monterey in 
1846. If I went anywhere, I would certainly 
have deep interest in being present, and it 
would greatly please me to meet those who 
served with General Fremont at that time. But 
I, too, belong only in memory to what was a 
great day, — truly "the birth of an empire." 

In sending my regrets, let me add my full 
sympathy in your Celebration and best wishes 
for the day. 

Sincerely yours, 

JESSIE Benton Fremont. 

To Edwin A. Sherman, Esq., Chairman Com. Asso- 
ciated Veterans Mexican War. 



[Letter of Hon. Edward M. Preston, Grand Master of 
Masons of California in reply to letter ol invitation 
and anticipation of the passing of the Bill.] 

Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of California, 
Office of the Grand Master of Masons, 

Nevada City, May 22nd, 1896. 
Major E. A. Sherman, Secretary, Sloat Mon- 
ument Association, Oakland. 

Dear Sir and Bro.: — Your esteemed favor 
of the 17th inst,, with enclosures relative to the 
proposed Celebration on July 7th, is at hand. 

I sincerely trust that Congress will <(rant the 
appropriation for the monument, in which case 
should it be desired by those in authority, I will 
convene the Grand Lodge for the purpose of 
conducting the ceremonies of laying of the 
corner-stone of the proposed monument to 
Commodore Sloat. I beg to assure you that I 
shall highly appreciate the honor of partici- 
pating in the ceremonies on that memorable 
occasion. 

Awaiting your further instructions, I remain, 
fraternally yours, 

E. M. Preston, Grand Master. 



[Letter from the same of June 26th, 1S96, from Nevada 
City.] 

Major Edwin A. Sherman, Oakland. 

Dear Sir and Bro.: — Your esteemed favor 
of June 23rd relative to exercises at Monterey 
reached me to-day. 

I am under obligations to you for giving me 
this timely information, and beg to assure you 
that, should the Grand Lodge be called upon to 
participate in the ceremonies, we will endeavor 
to accommodate our arrangements to the con- 
venience of the Committee of Arrangements. 

Fraternally yours, 

E. M. Preston, Grand Master. 



[Letter from the same. Permission having at last been 
granted by the Secretary of War to lay the Corner- 
stone.] 

Nevada City, Cal., June 30, 1896. 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Secretary Sloat 
Monument Association, Oakland. 



Dear Sir and Bro., — I am in receipt of 
your telegram and letter of yesterday, and 
highly appreciate the honor which has been 
conferred on the Grand Lodge in the invitation 
to conduct the ceremonies of the laying of the 
corner-stone of the monument. 

Allow me to thank you personally for the 
badge of honorary membership in your Asso- 
ciation which I received at your hands. It is 
an honor which I prize very highly. 

I beg to inform you that I have issued the 
order convening the Grand Lodge at Monterey 
at 9:30 A. M. on the 7th proximo. 

Fraternally yours, 

E. M. Preston, Grand Master. 



Hundreds of other letters were received in 
reply to invitations sent to the most distin- 
guished officers of the United States Govern- 
ment, the Vice-President, senators, representa- 
tives, military and naval ofl&cers, and offi- 
cers of the State, county and municipal 
governments of California, distinguished citi- 
zens, etc., sufficient to fill a good-sized 
book, all breathing the spirit of the purest 
patriotism, expressed in eloquent language 
and appreciating the honor conferred and 
praising and encouraging the noble object 
of the undertaking. Pioneer societies and other 
organizations were duly invited and their ac- 
ceptances received with thanks and placed on 
file. 

The Southern Pacific Railroad Company 
manifested a most considerate and liberal spirit 
by reducing fares at half rates, going and re- 
turning from all parts of the State, and trans- 
porting the corner-stone of the monument from 
the quarries at Rocklin, Placer county, free of 
charge, — it weighing four tons, — which favor is 
gratefully acknowledged; two-thirds of the 
value of the stone being donated by the Rock- 
lin Granite Company, to whom our thanks are 
due. 

The sum of $3,693. 15 was contributed by the 
people of the State, of which the sum of 12,063 
was contributed by Monterey town, county and 
vicinity, and 11,635 by contributors of San 
Francisco, all of which was placed in the hands 
of the local committee at Monterey which dis- 
bursed the same. Of this amount but $150 was 
appropriated towards the laying of the concrete 
and other expenses in laying the corner-stone 
of the monument, and including that and all 
other expenses connected with the celebration 
on the 7th of July did not exceed ten per cent, 
of the amount contributed; the ninety and odd 
per cent, being expended by that Committee 
for a. fiesta or festivities on the 4th, 5th and 6th 
of July, in which the Veterans of the Mexican 
War had no interest and were not present to 
participate in. Consequently as those matters 
were but side shows and of a standard not com- 
porting with the dignity of a national patriotic 
celebration of the Semi-Centennial Anniversary 
of one of the grandest historic events in the 



history of the American Republic, the Commit- 
tee of Publication deem it proper to make no 
further reference to those matters whatever. 

The Committee of Arrangements of the Asso- 
ciated Veterans of the Mexican War deeming it 
to be proper that the event of the raising of 
the Bear Flag at Sonoma on the 14th of June, 
1846, as a matter of co-incidental history should 
be commemorated also on its 50th anniversary, 
three weeks preceding that at Monterey, cor- 
respondence was had with some of the surviv- 
ors of the Bear Flag party, some of whom with 
others who served under Fremont, and the citi- 
zens of Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties, and 
a fine celebration was held at Sonoma on Sat- 
urday, June 13th, 1896, an account of which is 
herein contained. 

The 50th anniversary of the raising of the 
American flag at San Francisco and the Pre- 
sidio on July 9th, 1846, by Capt. J. B. Montgom- 
ery, of the U. S. sloop-of-war Portsmouth by 
orders of Commodore Sloat, the Committee of 
Arrangements deemed ought not to pass un- 
noticed; but the Veterans of the Mexican War 
could not take charge of the celebration at 
Monterey and that at San Francisco at the same 
time. Accordingly the Exempt Fire Company 
of San Francisco was invited to take charge of 
the latter celebration, and it did so in the most 
creditable manner, for which they deserve the 
hearty thanks and gratitude of every patriotic 
citizen — a full account of which is made a part 
of this report. 

For further description reference is made to 
the following account given. 

JAMES LAYTON, 
JOSEPH STEWART, 
CHARLES LANGE, 

Committee on Publication. 



PROCLAMATION. 

Executive Department, 

Sacramento, Cal. 

On July 7th, A. D. 1846, Commodore Sloat, 
U. S. N., in the name of the United Stales of 
America, raised the flag of our Union at Mon- 
terey, Cal., and occupied the territory under 
claim of the National Government. 

July 7th, A. D. 1896, marks the serai-centen- 
nial anniversary of this most important event 
in the history of our State, and should be set 
apart as a day of rejoicing by our people. 

Now, therefore, I, James H. Budd, Governor 
of the State of California, by virtue of the 
authority vested in me by the constitution and 
laws of said State, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, 
the 7th day of July, A. D. 1896, a holiday. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and caused the great seal of this State to 
be hereunto affixed, this 29th day of June, A. D. 
1896. 

James H. Budd, Governor. 

L. H. Brovi^n, Secretary of State. 




WILLIAM MAXWELL WOOD, U. S. N. 

Fleet Surgeon Pacific Siiuadron, 1846. 

Surgeon General U. S. Navv. i>^69 ,. 

This officer voluntarily undertook the perilous risk to enter Mexico and cross that country to learn the couai- 
tion of affairs, and at Guadalajara first and afterwards at the City of Mexic ), learned that war had actu tlly com- 
menced between the two countries ; and, but for the daring courage of this gallant officer, whose skill and adioit- 
ness in sending the information to Commodore Sloat at Mazatlan, Cdifornia would have been lost to the American 
Union ; and instead of being one of the United States, would now be a British province. c -y a . 

Savs Commodore Sloat in his letter from New York, 20th March, iS.vs : "The information you furnislied me at 
Mazatlan from Guadalajara, (at the risk of your life,) was the only reliable information I received of that event, 
and which induced me to proceed immediately to California, and upon my own responsibility to take possession 01 
that country, which I did on the 7th of July, 1846." ,, , • • r ,• i on-o,*.. 

Says Dr. Wood in his account of the intelligence he learned at the City of Mexico: "AH this information 1 again 
sentto the Commanding Officer of the Pacific .-xpiadron, signing my letter by an easily understood hierogiypnic, 
and sending it through the Mexican mail under cover to the suiyect of a neutral power ' cinat 

NOTR.— It was this last positive information sent by the way of Guadalajara, that warranted Commoaore Moai 
to act.— Edwin A. Sherman. 




WIIvLIAM P. TOILER, ESQ., 

Of Oakland, California, 

Who was a Midshipman and Staff Officer, first under Commodore Ap. Catesbv Jone<?, ot the U. S. Navy, in 1S44, 
and the Secretary and Signal Officer on the staff of Commodore John Drake Sloat, who wrote the proclamation 
to the People of California, issued by Commodore Sloat, and who was actually the very man who first raised the 
American Flag over the Custom House at Monterey, California, on July 7th, 1S46, and fifty years afterwards again 
hoisted it on July 7th, 1S96, amid the plaudits of several thousands of people, and the salutes of the American ves- 
sels of war, the Flagship "Philadelphia," and the Monitor "Monadnuck," of Admiral Lester A. Beardslee's 
Squadron.— Edvvin A. Siif.kman. 



Part 1. 



Cbe Celebration of tbe Tiftietb Jlnniversary of tbe Raising of the Bear Tlag 
at Sonoma, California, June u, i$46. 




IIE Committee of Arrangements of the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, having invited the people of 
Sonoma to take the necessary steps 
for the celebration of this event three 
weeks prior to the raising of the American 
flag at Monterey by Commodore Sloat, the 
invitation was promptly accepted. 

The following prominent citizens of Sonoma 
formed the Executive and Sub-Committees : 

Executive Committee — Fred. T. Duhring, 
Chairman ; Robert P. Hill, Robert Hall, 
George O. Campbell, Daniel D. Davisson, 
George Breitenbach, Executive Secretary, and 
Benj. Weed, Secretary of Sub-Committees. 

The Chairmen of Sub-Committees were as 
follows : Finance, Hon. Robert Howe ; News- 
paper Correspondence and Press Invitations, 
N. H. Granice ; Decorations, G. N. Holtz ; 
Transportation, Daniel D. Davisson ; Grounds, 
G. S. Harris ; Reception, Henry Seipp ; Dona- 
tions, Henry Hartin ; Parade, J. E. Poppe ; 
Reception of Ladies, Mrs. J. P. Weems. 

The success of the celebration at Sonoma 
was greatly due to the efforts especially of Mr. 
Daniel D. Davisson and Mr. Fred T. Duhring. 

The following account taken from the 
Exam,iner, Call, Chronicle and other news- 
papers of the following day, together with 
what is herein given by Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, he having been invited to serve as 
Grand Marshal of the occasion. It is proper 
to state that the Hon. William M. Boggs, of 
Napa, was elected and served as Councilman, 
and Major Edwin A. Sherman, was elected and 
served as the first Clerk of the town of Sonoma 
when the late Gen. M. G. Vallejo was Mayor, 
and the)' two are now the only survivors of the 
first city government of Sonoma in 185 1. 

Sonoma, June 13th. — Brave men and fair 
women joined to-day in a mighty cheer as the 
original Bear Flag was run up to the peak of 
the same flagpole that bore it just fifty years 
ago, when it heralded the bloodless victory that 
divorced California from Mexican dominion 
and wedded her to the best of all the nations 
on which the sun shines. An enthusiasm 
worthy of the occasion marked the throngs 
that assembled here to-day to honor the little 
band of American patriots that rode into the 
hamlet of Sonoma at daybreak of June 14, 1846, 
made a prisoner of General Vallejo and flung 
to the breeze the emblem of the new republic. 

From early morning every avenue which 
gfives the town communication with the out- 
side world was thronged with those who would 
attend the anniversary exercises that were to 
begin at 11 o'clock. Excursion trains from the 



metropolis brought a large delegation of pio- 
neers, several officers of the Grand Parlor of 
the Native Sons of the Golden W^est, and five 
hundred or more Native Sons and Native 
Daughters. From Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, 
Petaluma, Napa and other near-by towns came 
hundred of excursionists to swell the crowd. 
Never before in the history of the town had so 
many people assembled at one time, because, 
perhaps, there has never before been so great a 
source of attraction. 

The entertainment provided the great assem- 
blage, as well as the ceremonies of the day, 
were worthy the occasion. The beginning of 
the day was marked by the firing of anvils, the 
sharp reverberations awakening echoes along 
the inclosing hills and giving notice to rustic 
and townsman that the time for the much- 
talked-of celebration was at hand. At intervals 
throughout the day the firing was continued, 
accentuating the cheers of the multitude around 
the speakers' stand and adding to the demon- 
stration the essential element so dear to the 
American heart. Everything was as it should 
be, and the prepared programme was carried 
out without a break of any kind. 

As the delegations arrived from San Fran- 
cisco and other points they were met at the 
railway depot by a committee of citizens and 
there formed into a procession (by Major Ed- 
win A. Sherman, a former citizen of this place 
of forty-six years ago and the first City Clerk 
in 1851 under Gen. M. G. Vallejo as Mayor.) 

The procession marched through the princi- 
pal streets and around the plaza to the corner 
where a stand for the accommodation of the 
speakers had been erected beside the sturdy 
flagpole that has withstood successfully the de- 
stroying element for more than half a century. 
There, when all had assembled, Frederick T. 
Duhring, one of Sonoma's prominent citizens, 
introduced Mayor Henry Seipp, who delivered 
an address of welcome. Mayor Seipp said : 

Mr. President and Citizens of California: — On 
behalf of the people of this valley and city I 
welcome you to our hospitality. Though the 
boundaries of our corporation are not exten- 
sive, and the possibilities of our wealth and 
population are not many, we feel high pride in 
the part this valley has taken in the growth of 
the State. 

It was here the first step was made that 
brought this region under the Stars and Stripes. 
It is here, after a lapse of fifty years, we meet 
under that banner to pay homage to the spirit 
of adventure which has since the earliest time 
been the genius of our development, From 



the vantage point of these fifty years we may 
review the events of our growth. 

The June of 1846 smiled upon an almost vir- 
gin soil. Communication with civilization was 
irregular and infrequent. The natives were 
vastly in the majority, and the conditions of 
progress were wanting. Now the peaceful 
homes of our people are seen on every hand. 
The fruitful soil bears rich burdens of plenty. 
The occurrences of yesterday are the subjects 
of our conversation to-day. The Indian is a 
thing of the past. 

So great have been the changes that it is 
with difficulty we comprehend the gigantic 
strides with which the present has been reached. 
The first signal of the grand march of progress 
was by the patriots of our high destiny unfurled 
from yonder. They could not see the present, 
but, urged on by supreme confidence in the 
goddess of our fortunes, they placed an empire 
at her feet. Swiftly dormant energies quick- 
ened and the wild became tame. The institu- 
tion of liberty and law soon found foothold and 
the hopes that were are the realization of to- 
day. 

So it is well we remember our birth into the 
republic of liberty and pay tribute to the spirit 
that plunged into the vast wilderness of the 
West and builded this empire of the Pacific. 
We bid you welcome. The freedom of the city 
is yours. May your sojourn in our midst long 
be pleasantly remembered. Honor to the Bear 
Flag ! Hail to you all ! 

Henry C. Gesford, president of the day, fol- 
lowed the Mayor, prefacing his remarks by 
saying that his duties were not those of an 
orator, though he could not refrain from giving 
brief expression to a few of the thoughts called 
into life by the occasion that brought his hear- 
ers together. Continuing, he said: 

History is a record of man's achievements 
and their results, and it is the pride of every 
Californian that to the early pioneers is traced 
the first beatings of the great heart of this com- 
monwealth, and that in the magnificence of the 
California of to-day we see the proud results of 
the victories of these vanguards of our State- 
hood. We honor ourselves in paying homage 
to the memory of these men, most of whom 
now sleep beneath the oaks of these valleys. 
We have with us on this occasion survivors of 
that heroic band who will now raise aloft the 
rude banner which, born in revolution, hal- 
lowed by age and endeared by time, is an in- 
spiration to every man who cherishes the his- 
tory of this great State and reveres the memory 
of those heroes of '46. 

As the speaker closed, two of these survivors 
of the Bear Flag party, B. F. Dewell and Henry 
Beeson — the others, Harvey Porterfield, of Napa 
county, and Thomas Knight, of San Francisco, 
were absent — attached the tattered old flag to 
the suspended halyards and slowly hoisted the 
symbol to the top of the staff. The act was 
greeted by continued cheering. 

Following this ceremony came the reading 
of a historical essay by Robert A. Thompson, of 
Santa Rosa. He dwelt at length on the achieve- 
ments of the men who proclaimed the Califor- 
nia republic. 



"Of that gallant band of thirty-three that 
captured Sonoma," he said, "only four are now 
known to be living, and two of them are with 
us to-day. The rest have passed away, but if 
ever the spirit of the departed returns to the 
most potent scenes of its earthly activity, then, 
though all unseen, the spirits of those brave 
men are in our midst to-day. But I see in the 
future a monument to their memory. It stands 
upon this plaza, a late but deserved tribute to 
their valor. The typical grizzly guards its base; 
upon the polished surface of its four-square 
shaft are emblazoned the names of the Bear 
Flag men, and it is crowned with a statue of 
their beloved California." 

Merton C. Allen, orator of the day, paid a 
brilliant tribute to the memory of those who 
were first in the struggle to relieve California 
from Mexican dominion. He said : 

"Nearly nineteen centuries ago a new star 
arose in the far East. It was a star of hope 
that guided the shepherds, who watched their 
flocks by night, to a humble manger where lay 
the Christ-child at Bethlehem. The light of 
that wondrous star has come down through the 
centuries. It illumines the pages of history, 
and now, as in days of long ago, points the 
way to Him all people know as the Savior of 
mankind. 

Standing on this platform, under the influ- 
ence of a thousand memories which are called 
to mind by the day and the occasion, another 
star confronts me. It is the lone star of the 
California republic. I see it emblazoned on 
that historic Bear Flag which floats so proudly 
over our heads. In every line and fold of that 
old banner I read a lesson that should be dear 
to every California heart. To me the lone star 
is a source of inspiration. It renders a little 
more dear the knowledge of my nativity, and 
reminds me that as the star of Bethlehem 
guided men in olden times to the birthplace of 
Christ, so did the star which first flashed into 
view on that old flag inspire the men of an- 
other day to a deed of heroic valor, to which 
we owe the fact that to-day this great territory 
of California is a part of the United States." 

The speaker reviewed the history of the Bear 
Flag movement, defended the motives of those 
who participated, resented the unjust criticisms 
of prejudiced historians, and added: 

" Be history written as it may, the Bear Flag 
has a permanent place in the affections of that 
growing body of young men who call them- 
selves the Native Sons of the Golden West. 
They love the banner of 1846 for the principle 
of American independence which it typifies, 
and as long as the Order lives, the men who 
helped to raise the banner of the bear and star 
are assured an honored place in the sacred 
album of memory. 

The Bear Flag stands for home and native 
land. It became all the more dear to Califor- 
nia hearts on that memorable 9th of September, 
1850, when the lone star of self became merged 
in the constellation of national unity, and Cali- 
fornia was proclaimed the thirty-first State in 
the American Confederation." 

The speaker paid a high trbuite to the patri- 




COMMODORE ROBERT FIELD STOCKTON, U. S. N. 

(From a painting on ivory, owned by his son, Hon. John P. Stockton.) 

The successor in command of Commodore JOII.^f D. Sloat, U. S. N., who in his Official Report said: 
" On the 23rd (of July) my health heinj? sncli as to prevent my attending; to so much and such laborious duties, 
I directed Commodore Stockton to assume the command of the forces and operations on shore ; and on the 29tli, 
havinjr determined to return to the United States, via I'anama, I hoisted njv hroad pennant on the Levant and 
sailed for Mazatlan and Panama, leaving the remainder of the stjuadron under his command, etc. "— K. A. S. 




JOHN C. FREMONT. 
"The Pathfinder." 

(Copy from a picture loaned by his widow, Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont.) 

Captain U. S. Army, commanding Exploring Expedition, 1S45-46. 

Colonel U. S. Army, commanding Battalion in California, 1846-47. 

Fir.st U. S. Senator from California in 1S50-51-52. 

Fir.st Presidential Candidate of the Republican Party in 1S56. 

Major-General U. S. Volunteers in the War for the Preservation of the Union in 1861-65. 
[FIxtract from Commodore Sloat's Report ] 

" On his arrival there (Mission of San Juan) Mr. Fauntleroy found that the place had been taken possession of 
an hour or two previous by Captain Fremont, with whom he returned to Monterey on the 19th." (July, 1846.) 

" At the time of my leaving Monterey, the United States were in quiet possession of all 'Alta California' north 
of Santa Barbara." 

"The Cyane sailed for San Diego on the 26th, to carry down Captain Fremont with about 150 riflemen (Ameri- 
cans), to take possession there, and to cut off General Castro's retreat to Lower California or Mexico."— FI. A. S. 



otic spirit of Californians and congratulated his 
audience upon the wonderful growth and ad- 
vancement of the State since the days of the 
Bear Flag, and concluded in these words : 

" No words could enlarge a fame that is des- 
tined to endure as long as history. Sufficient 
be it that in passing I raise in honor of the de- 
parted pioneer a simple shaft of kindly thought. 
About the column I entwine the two historic 
flags which his hand helped to raise for the 
good of mankind. May the tears of angels 
water the flowers of tender memory which grow 
about him, and the breezes of heaven chant a 
requiem over his grave." 

Major Sherman being called upon, spoke 
briefly but eloquently ot the history of the men 
of the old town of Sonoma, paying a just tribute 
to the memory of Gen. M. G. Vallejo, who w-as 
in favor of California becoming a part of the 
American republic and opposed to its being 
made British territory by being sold by the 
Central Government of Mexico to pay the Eng- 
lish debt. Here in Sonoma was where the 
Headquarters of the Pacific Division of the 
U. S. army in 1850-1-2-3 were located, with 
Gen. Persifor F. Smith in command, with his 
staff, composed of Lieut. -Col., afterwards Gen. 
Joseph Hooker, who was then Assistant Adju- 
tant General, Major Hiram Leonard, Paymas- 
ter, Major Phil. Kearney, also afterwards Gen- 
eral, the first at the head of his command to 
enter the City of Mexico before its surrender, 
and to lose his arm at the Gate of Belen. Here 
also was Lieut. George Stoneman, afterwards 
General, and later to become the Governor of 
California. Also Lieut. George H. Derby, of 
the Engineer Corps, who was the prince of 
wags, known as "John Phoenix" and " Squibob," 
whose name and fame is known throughout 
the breadth and length of the Pacific Coast and 
wherever the army button is worn. 

Here was where the pretty Missouri girls 
lived who had recovered from the alkali of the 
plains, whose cheeks were like roses, their eyes 
shining with the blue depths of heaven, and 
whose ruby lips were wet with nectar and 
honey-dew upon which the humming-birds de- 
lighted to feed, as well as other birds without 
any feathers, though the down might be grow- 
ing that would develop into hirsute appendages. 

But the girls of those days were now grand- 
mothers, were now too old to kiss, and he would 
have to look to the younger generation for the 
ancient refreshment of Platonic love upon the 
lips while " Fond memory brings the light of 
other days around him." 

He returned his thanks for the kind remem- 
brance and the honor conferred upon him in 
inviting him to come from his home in Oakland 
to act as Grand Marshal upon this historic oc- 
casion, which was an honor indeed unexpected 
and most gratefully appreciated. 

His remarks were received with hearty ap- 
plause. 

At the close of the speech-making every one 
so disposed repaired to the tables built under 
the trees of the plaza, and all were there served 
with barbecued meats from smoking pits where 
the fires have been going since F^riday morn- 
ing. 



THE REVOLT AT SONOMA. 

Love of Liberty Moved the Men of "46 to Cut 
Adrift From Mexico. 

" A day, an hour of virtuous liberty 
Is worth a whole eternity of bondage." 

Let those who will, allege that the raising of 
the Bear Flag was a precipitate act, the senti- 
ment of these lines of Addison is all the justifi- 
cation that need be offered, if indeed any be 
required. The men of '46 raised the symbol in 
the cause of liberty. 

The raising of the Bear Flag at Sonoma just 
fifty years ago — ^June 14, 1846 — precipitated un- 
questionably the entry of California into the 
Union. The time was ripe. A strong, firm 
hand was needed to blaze out the path of a 
more enlightened civilization. Mexico, so 
deeply engaged with her own affairs, had 
neither time nor interest sufficient to pay heed 
to the requirements of her department — Cali- 
fornia. The civil and military authorities here 
were continually at swords' points, and as a 
result crime stalked unchecked ; justice, un- 
known as a reality, was a name only ; educa- 
tion was neglected, and there was a well- 
grounded belief that the Mexican authorities 
intended, sooner or later, to expel the foreign 
settlers from their adopted homes. It but 
required some such suggestion as that made by 
the heroes of Sonoma to center attention on 
the path to relief. The rest came naturally. 

Early in January of 1846 Captain John C. 
Fremont, of the United States Army, in com- 
mand of an exploring expedition, entered 
California via the-Truckee route and encamped 
in the vicinity of what became Kern and 
Fresno counties. He spent some time in 
camp, then went to Sutter's Fort, subsequently 
visiting both San Jose and Monterey. At the 
latter place he had a conference with Thomas 
O. Larkin, who was the Consular representa- 
tive, as well as the confidential agent of the 
United States Government in California. 

Commandante Jose Castro, who, with Pio 
Pico, the Governor, divided Mexican authority 
in California, could not fail to learn that 
Fremont was at Monterey and had left a body 
of armed "explorers" at Sutter's F'ort. He 
demanded from Consul Larkin an explanation 
of the visit. Castro was informed that the 
object of the " pathfinder " was to survey a 
practical overland route to the Pacific. It was 
also stated that Fremont and his party were 
going north to Oregon. 

The Captain and his men did not at once 
take up the trail northward, but marched south 
via Santa Teresa, over the Santa Cruz mount- 
ains and via Los Gatos to Santa Cruz, and then 
inland to the Salinas valley. This took place 
immediately after the conference with Consul 
Larkin, and Jos^ Castro joined Prefect Manuel 
Castro in a demand that F^'remont withdraw at 
once. The Captain declined absolutely, in- 
trenched himself on Gabilan Peak and for the 
second time the Stars and Stripes were hoisted 
by an American soldier in California. This 
was on March 6, 1S46. 

Castro mustered a couple of hundred men 



with the idea of dislodging the Americans, but 
thought better of it and gave up the plan. 
Fremont leisurely withdrew from his peak and 
marched north. 

Another representative of the United States 
Government then put in an appearance— Lieu- 
tenant Archibald H. Gillespie, of the United 
States Marine Corps. He was sent to cooper- 
ate with Larkin and Fremont in the peaceful 
annexation of California. 

Gillespie went after Fremont with letters 
from the Government as well as from Lark in, 
reaching Lassen's rancho on May 24th. Even 
Hubert Bancroft in his ingenious description of 
the career of Fremont in these days admits 
that the policy of the United States was clearly 
made manifest to Larkin, Fremont and Gilles- 
pie, and that the policy was to seize California 
in the event of war with Mexico. 

To the rumors that were current in the 
northern part of the State at that time, as a 
result of the clash between Fremont and 
Castro, were added stories, more or less 
founded on fact, of threatening proclamations 
issued by General Castro against Americans. 
So it happened that when a report reached 
Fremont's camp that Castro was gathering an 
army to drive the foreign settlers from the 
country, a small and courageous body of men 
under Ezekiel Merritt set forth from Fremont's 
camp determined to check any advance or 
perish in the attempt. On Sunday, June 14, 
1846, with a following of perhaps thirty-three 
men, Merritt marched to Sonoma, quietly took 
possession and hoisted over the city the stand- 
ard of the California Republic ; known ever 
since to history as the Bear Flag. 

The act may have been precipitate, but there 
was every incentive for the men to strike for 
their homes and inaugurate what they hoped 
would be a better state of affairs. 

The men who raised the Bear Flag at Sonoma 
were Ezekiel Merritt, William B. Ide, John 
Grigsby, Robert Temple, Henry Beeson, H. L. 
Ford, William Todd, William Fallon, William 
Knight, William Hargrave, Samuel Kelsey, G. 
P. Swift, Samuel Gibson, W. W. Scott, Thomas 
Cowie, William B. Elliott, Thomas Knight, 
Horace Sanders, Henry Booker, David Hud- 
son, John Sears, J. H. Kelley, C. C. Griffith, 
Harvey Porterfield, John Scott, Ira Stebbius, 
Marion Wise, Ferguson, Peter Storm, Patrick 
McChristian, Bartlett Vines, John Gibbs, George 
W. Williams, Andrew Kelsey, Benjamin Kel- 
sey and Benjamin Dewell. 

Of this party there are but four survivors — 
Harvey Porterfield, Benjamin Dewell, Henry 
Beeson and Thomas Knight. 

Mr. Dewell answered a few days ago the 
questions propounded by Bancroft, to-wit : 
"Who furnished the cotton? Who the flan- 
nel? Whence came the red paint? Was the 
cloth new or old ? Had the flannel graced the 
undergarment of a fair and patriotic lady, or 
had it filled a humble station as a part of a 
man's red shirt ? " 

Mr. Dewell's answers describe the flag 
graphically. 

" The pioneer does not remember who fur- 
nished the cotton, but cotton was plentiful. 



Red flannel was very scarce, however. Mrs. J. 
Grigsby and Mrs. W. B. Elliott furnished the 
red flannel. The latter supplied all she could 
from a petticoat, and then from the leathern- 
shirted throng a committee of one was chosen 
to call upon Mrs. Grigsby for the remainder." 
It happened that the lady was in the act of 
cutting up red flannel for an expected baby 
Grigsby. She yielded, however, to the exi- 
gency of the hour and denied herself and her 
unborn babe that the flag might be completed. 

*' The flag was made," said Dewell a few 
days ago, " in the front room of the barracks, 
just at the left of the door, and most of the 
sewing was done by myself. ' Bill ' Todd 
painted the bear and star with black ink. The 
colors — red, white and blue — were used be- 
cause they were the colors of the United States 
flag. The bear was selected as representing 
the strongest animal found in that section of 
the country. The language of the flag was : 
' A bear stands his ground always, and as long 
as the stars shine we stand for the cause.' " 

Mrs. Dewell, who was a daughter of the 
petticoat-sacrificing Mrs. Elliott, remembers 
the flag well. She says it consisted of nine or 
ten stripes alternating in white, red and blue, 
with a blue square in the upper corner next 
the staff, a black star on the first white stripe, 
and a black bear on the second white stripe. 
Underneath the bear were the words, " Califor- 
nia Republic." The bear and lettering were in 
ink. Thomas Cowie helped Dewell in the sew- 
ing, as they were both saddlers by trade. The 
result of their labors may not have been a 
work of art, but it stood for the grandest senti- 
ment which can inspire men to noble thoughts 
and deeds : it stood for liberty. 

With the hoisting of the flag an accom- 
plished fact it was but natural that these men 
should desire to be known as something else 
than a mere party of filibusters, and so they 
supplemented the declaration which the Bear 
Flag itself made with a proclamation. This 
pronunciamento was written by Ide himself 
and bore the date June 15, 1846. The original 
is in the possession of the Society of California 
Pioneers, and its text is as follows : 

A Proclamation to All Persons, Citizens 
OF Sonoma and Country Around Re- 
questing Them to Remain at Peace and 
TO Follow Their Rightful Occupation 
Without Fear of Molestation. 
The commander-in-chief of the troops assem- 
bled at the fort of Sonoma gives his inviolable 
pledge to all persons in California not found 
under arms that they shall not be disturbed in 
their persons, their property or their social 
relations one to another by men under his com- 
mand. He also solemnly declares his object to 
be, first, to defend himself and his brave com- 
panions in arms who were invited to this 
country by a promise of land on which to 
settle themselves and families ; who were also 
promised a Republican government ; who, 
when having arrived in California were denied 
even the privilege of buying or renting land of 
their friends ; who instead of being allowed to 
participate in or being protected by a Republi- 



f ^ 1 mi^tmUa i U- - liTmir 



~1 




GENERAL, MARIANO GUADALUPE VALLKJO. 
Tun First Mayor ok Sonoma in iS5i-5:-53. 
Member of the Kir>t Constitutional Convention of California, in Septemlier iSjq 
.•^tate senati.r of tlie First Legislature of California, iu 1S50. 

A true patriot and gentleman and a public spirited and progressive man. His death was a ereat loss to the 
pleof his mtive State of California, and his birthday will always I; -" ■ ^ • vras n great loss to the 



Peopl ,„ „„, „ 

ing of the American Flag in California. A joyful coincidence. 



be celebrated on the Anniversary of the Kais- 





HON. WILLIAM M. ROGGS, 
Ok Napa, Cal. 
The First Councilman of Sonoma, Cal., 1S51-S2 S3. 
. A Veteran of the Mexican War, serving in California 

in ih46-47. 

Member of the K.\eculive Committee of the Sloat 
Monument Associa' ion. Was present at Sonoma at the 
Celebration, held June 14th, 1.S96. 



MAJOR EDWIN A. SHERMAN, 
Ok Oakland, Cal. 
The First Clerk of Sonoma, Cal , iSt 1-52-53. 
Veteran of the Mexican War. 

Served as Grand Marshal (by invitation) at the Cele- 
bration at Sonoma, June 14th, i.Sg6. 
Secretary of the Sloat Monument Association. 




MR. BENJAMIN F. DEUELL and MR. HENRY BEESON, 

Two of the Survivors of the Bear Flag Party Revolution, who raised the Bear Flag at Sonoma, Californi 
14th, 1S46, and who raised it again at the Celebration held Fifty years afterwards, on June 14th, 1S96. 



ja, June 




HON. 



H. C. GESFORD, 
Of Napa, Cal. 



Grand Presi lent of the Grand Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, an.l President of the Day at the ':ele- 
bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Raising of the Bear Flag at Sonoma, Cilifoiuia, June i4lh, i>^. 



can government, were oppressed by a military 
despotism ; who were even threatened by 
proclamation from the chief officer of the 
aforesaid despotism with extermination if they 
would not depart out of the country, leaving 
all their property, their arms and beasts of bnr- 
den ; and thus deprived of the means of flight 
or defense, we were to be driven through the 
deserts, inhabited by hostile Indians, to certain 
death. To overthrow a government which has 
seized the missions for its individual aggrand- 
izement, which has ruined and shamefully 
oppressed the laboring people of California by 
their enormous exactions on goods imported 
into the county, is the determined purpose of 
the brave men who are associated under his 
command. 

He also solemnly declares his object in the 
second place to be to invite all peaceable and 
good citizens of California, who are friendly to 
the maintenance of good order and equal 
rights, and I do hereby invite them to repair to 
my camp at Sonoma without delay to assist us 
in establishing and maintaining a Republican 
Government which shall secure to all civil and 
religious liberty ; which shall encourage in- 
dustry, virtue and literature ; which shall leave 
unshackled by fetters, commerce, manufactures 
and mechanism. 

He further declares that he relies upon the 
rectitude of our intentions, the favor of heaven 
and the bravery of those who are bound to 
and associated with him by the principle of 
self-preservatiou, by the love of truth and by 
the hatred of tyranny — for his hopes of success. 

He further declares that he believes that a 
government, to be prosperous and happifying 
in its tendencies, must originate with its people 
who are friendly to its existence ; that its citi- 
zens are its guardians ; its officers are its ser- 
vants and its glory their reward. 

Wii^iviAM B. IDE, Commander. 
Headquarters Sonoma, June 15, 1846. 

This narrative of the stand-taking by brave 
men mav be closed with a quotation from one 
of their number, Robert Semple : 

A single man cried out, " Let us divide the 
spoils," but one universal, dark, indignant 
frown made him shrink from the presence of 
honest men, and from that time forward no 
man dared to hint anything like violating the 
sanctity of a private house, or touching private 
property. Their children in generations yet to 
come will look back with pleasure upon the 
commencement of a revolution carried on by 
their fathers upon principles high and holy as 
the laws of eternal justice. 

Thus the celebration of the raising of the 
Bear Flag at Sonoma on June 14th, 1846, was 
brought to a happy close, the fitting prelude to 
the celebration of a greater event but far less 
perilous to the participants in the raising of the 
American flag at Monterey by Commodore 
John D. Sloat, on the 7th of July, 1846, a little 
more than three weeks afterwards. 

In speaking of this affair of the Bear Flag 
Revolution and the proclaiming of the Repub- 
lic of California, they had only repeated what 
General M. G. Vallejo had himself done at 



Monterey in November, 1S3S, in declaring 
California independent of Mexico, and was 
made Commandante General of tlie Republic 
of California. This distinguished, able and 
patriotic gentleman, soldier and statesman and 
lover of California, his native soil, had the 
remarkable career of having lived under no 
less than five separate and distinct national 
flags and without leaving his native State. He 
was born under the flag of Spain ; became a 
soldier, general and statesman under the flag 
of Mexico ; raised his own standard of the 
California Republic at Monterey in 1838 ; was 
captured and made prisoner under the Bear 
Flag and paroled ; and lastly by the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo became a citizen of the 
United States without having to be natural- 
ized. He helped to frame the first Constitu- 
tion of California, served in its first Legislature 
and helped to name the twenty-seven counties 
into which the State of California was first 
divided. He gave the name to the city of 
Vallejo, at one time the State Capital, and the 
name of his wife to Benicia. He was the first 
Mayor of Sonoma, of which the writer was the 
first City Clerk, and a more liberal, kind- 
hearted, patriotic and public spirited man 
according to his situation and environment 
never lived. Hospitable to the extreme, polite 
and urbane, and broad-minded, he permitted 
his daughters to marry American, Hungarian 
as well as Mexican gentlemen, and thus turn 
the streams of his own blood into the channels 
of the nationalities of the world. It was the 
misfortunes of civil war, made necessary by 
the perilous exigencies of the times, when self- 
preservation, the first law of nature, came into 
force, which made him a prisoner of war ; 
when, if he himself had been in supreme com- 
mand in California, the Bear Flag Revolution 
would not have occurred, and three weeks 
after the Bear Flag was hoisted, he would have 
gracefully surrendered California to the de- 
mands of Commodore Sloat, in accordance 
with his previously expressed convictions in 
regard to his choice, preferring to be a free 
sovereign American citizen under a republican 
form of government rather than to be the sub- 
ject of any European monarchical power. 

Having served in an official capacity under 
him as City Clerk of Sonoma when he was 
Mayor of that place nearly half a century ago, 
and having enjoyed his confidence as a trusted 
friend, socially and otherwise, I deem it but 
just to pay this tribute to his worth and mem- 
ory, which will be endorsed by many an 
American pioneer who had the pleasure of his 
gentlemanl}- intercourse and acquaintance. 
Edwin A. Sherman. 



[Copy of letter received.] 

Sonoma, CAi,.,June 15th, 1896. 
Major E. A. Sherman. 

My Dear Sir: — On behalf of the Executive 
Committee, I wish to thank you for your ser- 
vices as Marshal of the parade. We look upon 
your speech at the foot of the flagpole as one 
of the events of the day. Your obedient 
servant, Benj. Weed, 

Sec. Ex. Committee. 



Part 2. 



Cbe Caying of tbc Corner-Stone of tbe Sloat monument by tbe m. li}. 

Grana Codge of Tree and Accepted masons of the State of 

California, at monterey, 3uiy 7% \m. 




N account of the limited time for car- 
rying out the entire programme of the 
day, and as a large portion of the or- 
ganizations could not arrive by the 
trains until noon, the Sloat Monu- 
ment Association deemed it best that the cor- 
ner-stone should be laid at 10:30 o'clock in the 
forenoon of July 7th, 1896, and the arrange- 
ments were made accordingly. 

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons of the State of California assembled in 
the Hall of Monterey Lodge No. 217, F. & A. 
M., where it was opened in ampi^e; form with 
the following officers : 

M. W. Edward Myers Preston, Grand Master. 

R. W. William Thomas Lucas, Deputy Grand 
Master. 

R. W. Thomas Grafton Lambert as Senior 
Grand Warden. 

R. W. Frank Marion Angellotti, Junior Grand 
Warden. 

V. W. Edward Coleman, Grand Treasurer. 

V. W. George Johnson, Grand Secretary. 

V. R. Jacob Voorsanger, Grand Orator. 

W. Edward Swift West, Grand Marshal. 

W. Henry Jameson Burns as Grand Standard 
Bearer. 

W. Henry Calcutt Keyes, Grand Sword 
Bearer. 

W. Jerome Bonaparte Richardson, Grand 
Bible Bearer. 

W. William Monroe Petrie, Senior Grand 
Deacon. 

W. William Frank Pierce as Junior Grand 
Deacon. 

W. John Randolph Patrick as Senior Grand 
Steward. 

W. H. C. Levy as Grand Pursuivant. 

W. Samuel David Mayer, Grand Organist. 

W. William James Towle as Grand Tiler. 

The Grand Lodge assembled with the Officers 
and Members of Monterey Lodge, No. 217, F. 
& A. M. as follows: 

W. Thomas Grafton Lambert, Master. 

William Kay, Senior Warden. 

Will Jacks, Junior Warden. 

James Bowman Snively, Treasurer. 

William Edward Crawford, Secretary. 

Wm. M. R. Parker, Senior Deacon. 
■ Edward Grimes as Junior Deacon. 

Edward Spencer Josselyn, Senior Steward. 

H. A. Olmsted, Junior Steward. 

William James Towle, Tiler. 

And the following members : 

Thomas Bralee, Andrew Bronson, Jacob War- 
ren Bugby, Samuel S. Boyle, Abner Bassett, 
Theodore Webster Cook, Mason Lorenzo Dex- 



ter, Samuel Franklin Geil, Adolph Garrick, 
Ferdinand Gunzendorfer, Edward Ingram, 
Matthew Collins Ireland, Henry Edmund Kent, 
David Spence Little, William Henry Pyburn, 
Frank Pierce, John R. Patrick, D. D. Spencer, 
Isaac N. Swetnam, Luther S. Toothaker, and 
Jonathan Wright with the Masonic Veteran 
Association and following visiting Brethren : 

F.'A. Abbott, Washington Ayer, J. W. Baum, 
C. E. Brown, L. A. Brownell, E. B. Church, J. 
T. Collins, W. M. Carrick, Samuel H. Collins, 
B. Coleman, R. Dixie, Charles W. Decker, C. 
E. Davison, W. E. Edmonson, Thomas Flint, 
James K. P. Fancher, Joseph F'igel, J. W. 
Grimes, Wm. Hubbard, J. G. Hoey, F. Hawes, 
Robert Hall, O. S. Henderson, H. Hinkle, 
Royal R. IngersoU, Isadore Jacobs, H. H. Kir- 
by, S. Lorenzen, Samuel W. Levy, J. H. Lau- 
yon, L- B. Luther, Oswald Lubbock, O. J. Lin- 
coln, Robert Munch, A. A. McAlister, M. J. 
O'Brien, F. O. Oak, James Orr, J. A. Petersen, 
S. M. Raineley, Wm. Sutton, T. W. Shmeckel, 
E. H. Safley, G. W. Sill, Edwin A. Sherman, 
Thos. J. Tidball, James Topley, Robert A. Will- 
iams, and many others who failed to register, 
numbering in all about one hundred and fifty 
Master Masons representing fifty or more 
lodges in California and a few others elsewhere. 

In the meantime, a battalion of seamen and 
marines from the U. S. Flagship Philadelphia 
and the Monitor Monadnock, under the com- 
mand of Bro. and Lieut.- Commander Royal 
R. IngersoU of the Philadelphia and preceded 
by the Marine Band of that ship, were drawn 
up in line in front of the Hall of Monterey 
Lodge, No. 217 of F. & A. M. 

As the Grand Lodge of Masons appeared and 
formed in line of procession, the naval battalion 
presented arms, while the band played an ap- 
propriate air. When all was arranged, the 
naval battalion was ordered into column by 
divisions, and acting as escort to the Grand 
Lodge of Masons, and led by Major Edwin A. 
Sherman as Grand Marshal mounted on horse- 
back, the procession moved down Alvarado 
Street, which was gaily decorated, past the Old 
Custom House, thence up Decatur Street to the 
road leading to Pacific Grove to the entrance 
to the Military Reservation, passing in review 
of tlie naval battalion which returned to the 
ships of war. The Masonic procession moved 
up to the front of the prolonged angle of Fort 
Mervine, and thence directly east to where the 
corner-stone was ready to be laid; signal men 
were placed to signal to the ships of war in the 
harbor the moment when the stone was laid. 

A large concourse of people, numbering sev- 
eral thousands, covered the old entrenchments 



13 



of Fort Mervine, the crown and slopes of the 
hill, aud where Admiral Beardslee and his 
staff, the officers and members of the Sloat 
Monument Association with a few scattered 
veterans of the Mexican War sprinkled in the 
throng, the main bodies of which latter had 
not yet arrived. 

When the Grand INIaster Edward M. Preston 
had taken his station with the other Grand 
Officers of the Grand L,odge of Masons of Cali- 
fornia around him, and all was in readiness, Bro. 
Dr. Washington Ayer, M. D., of San Francisco, 
President of the Sloat Monument Association, 
stepped forward with the trowel in hand, and 
addressed the Grand Master as follows : 

" Most Worshipful Grand Master Edward Rf . 
Preston, of the Grand Lodge of Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons of the State of California: — We 
have assembled here to-da}- to commemorate 
one of tfie most important aud interesting 
events in the annals of our country, and to 
honor the memory of one who was not only 
brave in battle in the defense of his country, 
and upon the ocean amidst the perils of storms, 
but was also brave in his integrity and deter- 
mination to perform his duty promptly and 
well. 

Fifty years ago to-day Commodore John 
Drake Sloat raised the emblem of freedom — 
the " Old Glory " of his country — near the 
ground we now occupy, which act led to the 
achievement of one of the most important con- 
quests recorded in history, and which gave 
peaceful possession of California, Nevada and 
Utah, with more than 350,000 square miles of 
territory to the United States. 

"We are here to laj- the corner-stone upon 
which will be built a monument to his memory 
and become an enduring expression of the 
gratitude of the American people for the patri- 
otism, loyalty and fidelity he displayed to his 
country in the hour when the great interests of 
the Nation were imperiled by the voice beyond 
the sea, and in that supreme moment of danger 
when the English fleet, commanded by Admiral 
Seymour on the Collingwood, was within sound 
of the cannon upon the American warships 
Savannah, Cyane and Levant then safely an- 
chored in the bay of Monterey. 

"Then the spirit of American freedom hovered 
over tliis fair land of fruits, vines and flowers 
in perennial bloom and revealed the future 
destiny of California to the world, which is now 
the brightest star in the galaxy of States. With 
mines of untold wealth, having already pro- 
duced more than fr, 600, 000, 000 of gold, and 
with forests of the giant sequoia, the grandest 
waterfalls in the world, the most sublime and 
charming mountain scenery, salubrious climate, 
orange groves and orchards laden with every 
variety of fruit, and vineyards whose vintage is 
found throughout the civilized world, and the 
voice of thrift is heard through the valleys 
where the sunset's afterglow cheers the hours 
of departing day. 

" These are all the inheritance, bequests and 
blessings secured by the act of a brave man, 
whose name posterity, through succeeding gen- 
erations, will hold in sacred esteem, and no 
cowardly and unscrupulous historian will dare 



ever again to outrage his memory or attempt 
to impeach his integrity. 

"The assassination of true history and the 
malicious libels upon the life and character of 
Commodore Sloat by a pseudo historian of 
California should give his voluminous labors a 
prominent place in obscurity. 

"The events of that period of 1846, so full of 
imminent danger to the acquisition of this 
favored land, gave birth to a new and higher 
civilization along the whole of the Pacific 
Coast, and well may our country feel proud of 
the achievement and well can it afford to build 
monuments to the memory of its heroes dead — 
monuments which shall stand as the reposito- 
ries of that spirit of patriotism and gratitude 
which animates the hearts of a free and intelli- 
gent people. 

"A monument like the pyramids of Egypt may 
express only an idea of stability or so much 
force and labor expended without the reward 
of history; but when the granite shaft becomes 
the embodiment of a sentiment of gratitude as 
the eye gazes upon it, it iuspires a desire to rise 
above the average man in the path of patriotic 
dut}' and elevates one to the dignity and true 
nobility of the citizen. It becomes the object 
lesson of faith in the army and upon the field 
of battle, and is the beacon-light and bow of 
promise to the brave. 

"Love of country is the natural instinct and 
birth-right of all nations and tribes of men; 
and the higher the civilization, the more sacred 
becomes the obligation of a free people to pre- 
serve the acquisitions of conquests against the 
possible invasion of a foreign foe, and the en- 
croachment of undesirable neighbors. Our 
country may rightfully feel proud of its achieve- 
ments and the acquisitions of its conquests 
upon the Pacific Coast. 

" To keep alive and perpetuate the memory of 
those early stirring times of California during 
the brief struggles for its acquisition and sepa- 
ration from its parent Government, the 7th of 
July should be made for the future a National 
legal holiday — equal in importance to the 17th 
of June — that the hearts of our youth may be 
filled with patriotism, while they sing their 
hymns of rejoicing, and then we should realize 
more than we have )'et done the great benefits 
secured by the conquest of this sunset land; 
where now the voice of the murmuring ocean 
is the lullaby of the midnight slumbers of the 
Nation. Here no longer the vigilant eye grows 
weary with its long vigils — the heart-throbs of 
patriotic doubt and fear are now lulled into 
serene repose, and there is no longer fear that 
a hostile invading army will attempt to wrest 
from our grasp the coveted prize of fifty years 
ago — a prize then made an eternal bequest to 
freedom by the immortal spirit of Commodore 
John Drake Sloat, whose eulogy will be fittingly 
pronounced by the orator of the day. 

" Most wonshipful grand master of the Grand 
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the 
State of California : Believing you to be ecjually 
skilled in operative as yon are in speculative 
masonry — in accordance with an ancient and 
time-honored custom, the Sloat Monument As- 
sociation invited you to be present to-day to 



H 



lay the corner stone of the monument com- 
memorative of the heroic deeds of a brave and 
loyal officer of the navy; and I now present 
you with this trowel, which will assist you to 
perform your labor. You will see that the 
stone is level— you will see that it is plumb and 
that it is square — that future generations shall 
find it as you leave it, as unchanged and true 
as the patriotism planted in the hearts of the 
American people." 

The M. W. Grand Master Edward M. Preston 
in response expressed his high appreciation of 
the honor extended to the Grand Lodge of 
Masons. It was fitting that the Masons should 
on this day unite with the people of the Pacific 
Coast in paying homage to the memory of 
Sloat, and so, too, in laying a corner-stone of a 
monument to him. The speaker drew a beau- 
tiful picture of the trowel and cement, which 
was emblematic of the cement that ties the 
craft of Masonry in bonds of fraternity. The 
trowel, he said, would be treasured by him as 
a beloved memento of this great day, which, he 
declared, would throughout the ages be as an 
emblem of patriotism. His address was ap- 
plauded warmly. 

Dr. Church, acting Grand Chaplain of the 
Grand Lodge, then pronounced an eloquent 
prayer, at the close of which the Grand Lodge 
replied in unison, "So mote it be." 

The National Hymn " America " was then 
sung by the Masonic Choir and the vast audi- 
ence, led by Bro. Samuel D. Mayer, the Grand 
Organist. 

Grand Master Preston then addressed Dr. 
Washington Ayer, the President of the Sloat 
Monument Association, as follows : 

" On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Free and 
Accepted Masons of the State of California, I 
formally accept your invitation, Mr. President, 
and will proceed with the ceremony of laying 
this foundation stone; and may the shaft which 
is to be erected hereon remain a monument to 
truth, justice, and heroic patriotism." 

The Grand Master then addressing the Senior 
Grand Warden, said : 

" Brother Senior Grand Warden : It has been 
the custom among the Fraternity of Free and 
Accepted Masons, from time immemorial, to 
assemble for the purpose of laying the founda- 
tion stones of public buildings or of such other 
structures as are intended to commemorate 
great public events or the patriotic services of 
great public men, when requested so to do by 
those having authority. The Grand Lodge of 
Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Cali- 
fornia, having been invited by the Sloat Monu- 
ment Association of California to lay the founda- 
tion stone of the monument proposed to be here 
erected in honor of the late John Drake Sloat, 
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy, who when Commo- 
dore and in command of the Pacific Squadron, 
and in obedience to orders from the U. S. Gov- 
ernment, landed here and hoisted the American 
Flag, taking possession of California on July 
7th, 1846, and on this the 50th anniversary of 
that event, it appearing to me to be one of the 
proper occasions for such services as just re- 



lated, that body has, by my order, been here 
convened, and it is my will and pleasure that 
it do now assist me in the performance of that 
welcome duty. This you will communicate to 
the Junior (^rand Warden, with instructions 
that he thus inform the Craft, that they, and 
all others here present, may be duly notified 
thereof." 

The Senior Grand Warden then communi- 
cated the order to the Junior Grand Warden, as 
follows : 

" Brother Junior Grand Warden : It is the 
will and pleasure of the Most Worshipful Grand 
Master, that the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of 
California do now assist in laying the founda- 
tion stone of the monument to be here erected 
in honor of the late John Drake Sloat, Rear 
Admiral of the U. S. Navy, who when Commo- 
dore and in command of the Pacific Squadron, 
and in obedience to orders from the U. S. Gov- 
ernment, landed here and hoisted the American 
F'lag, taking possession of California on July 
7th, 1846, and on this the 50th anniversary of 
that event." 

The Junior Grand Warden then repeated the 
order to the assemblage as follows : 

" Brethren : It is the will and pleasure of the 
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of 
the State of California, that the Grand Lodge 
thereof do now proceed with the ceremony of 
laying the foundation stone of the monument 
to be here erected in honor of the late John 
Drake Sloat, Rear Admiral of the U. S. Navy, 
who when Commodore and in command of the 
Pacific Squadron, and in obedience to orders 
from the U. S. Government, landed here and 
hoisted the American Flag, taking possession 
of California on July 7th, 1846, and on this the 
50th anniversary of that event. Of this you 
will take due notice, and govern yourselves ac- 
cordingly." 

The Grand Master then addressing the Grand 
Treasurer said : 

" Brother Grand Treasurer : It has ever been 
the custom of the Craft upon occasions like the 
present, to deposit within a cavity in the stone 
placed at the northeast corner of the edifice, (or 
of the foundation stone of a monument) certain 
memorials of the period at which it was erected; 
so that if, during the lapse of ages, the fury of 
the elements, the violence of man, or the slow 
but certain ravages of time, should lay bare its 
foundations, an enduring record may be found 
by succeeding generations to bear testimony to 
the untiring, unending industry and fidelity of 
the Free and Accepted Masons. Has such a 
deposit now been prepared? " 

The Grand Treasurer responded : 

" It has, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and 
with accompanying testimonies, is safely en- 
closed within the casket now before you." 

The Grand Master then said to the Grand 
Secretary : 

"Brother Grand Secretary: You will read 
the list of the contents of the casket to be de- 
posited." 

Whereupon the Grand Secretary read the 





Viewof the North and West sidfs Ml tli, (.l.i ^_n-,t(,iii Hon-r 



v.^v, u, iiie i^uiin rtiui vvesi biUfs Ml i iir ( .1. i ^_ n-,tMiii Hoii^r :ii Al om . riN , La 1 1 lorn la , willi th.' -am .■ - i , 1 [ ,,n 
Which Commodore John U Sloat raised the American Flag, July 7th, 1S40, when he took possession of Califorii 
[The two persons at the corner are Capt. Thomas G. Lambert and his wife, who were the custodians of it a 



occupied it over twentvj^eais ] 



n- -I I II upon 
Ilia, 
and 




View of the Ksst side of the Old Custom House at MunUiev, wlure Com inodoi e ^loat -. i.mcc- landed and took 
possession, July 7th, 1^46. 




HON. GEORGK C. PERKINS, 

Of Oakland, Cal. 

U. S. SENATOR FOR CALIFORNIA. 

Kx-Assetublyman and Ex-State Senator from Butte County, Cal. 

Kx Governor of the State of California. 

Past Grand Master of Masons of the State of California. 

Past Grand Commander of Knights Templar of California. 

Treasurer and Member of the Executive Committee of the Sloat Monument Association of California. 

Author of the Senate Bill in the U. S. Senate, appropriating the sum of Sio,ooo for the Sloat Monument. 

Alwajs generous and public spirited, and engaged in promoting many a good and noble work.— E. A. S. 



15 



following list of the contents of the casket to 
be deposited : 

LIST OF ARTICLES. 

Name of the President of the United States, 
nataes of the Secretaries of State, the Navy 
and War Departments, a photograph of Sloat, 
roll of officers of the Philadelphia and Monad- 
nock, roll of veterans of the Mexican war, 
name of the Governor of California, names of 
United States Senators and Congressmen from 
California, printed proceedings of the last ses- 
sion of the Grand Lodge of F. and A. M., list 
of Monterey county and city officials, copies of 
all newspapers printed in Monterey county, the 
Chronicle, Examiner a.nA (Ta/Zof San Francisco, 
piece of staff on which Sloat's flag was hoisted 
fifty years ago, poem by ]\Irs. Eliza Pittsinger, 
constitution and by-laws of the Masonic Veter- 
ans' Association, list of members and officers of 
the Sloat Monument Association. 

After the reading, the Grand Master said to 
the Grand Treasurer : 

"Brother Grand Treasurer : You will now 
deposit the casket in the cavit}' beneath the 
foundation stone; and may the great Architect 
of the Universe in His wisdom grant that ages 
upon ages shall pass away ere it again shall be 
seen of men." 

The Grand Treasurer, with the assistance of 
brethren as was necessary, then placed the 
casket in the cavity prepared in the lower stone. 

The Grand Honors were then given. 

The Choir then sang the following Ode : 

Place we now Foundation Stone, 
True and trusty Brothers own; 
Let us bring with hearts sincere 
Hands to help and voice to cheer. 

Proved by the Grand Master's hand, 
Long may this foundation stand ! 
May its superstructure rise 
In grace and beauty 'neath the skies. 

Let us join in songs of praise 
That this monument we raise, 
And ages hence, men bless the day 
Our flag was raised at Monterey. 

The Grand Master having the Trowel pre- 
sented by the President of the vSloat Monument 
Association, the Principal Architect distributed 
the rest of the working tools to the Grand Offi- 
cers, giving the Square to the Deputy Grand 
Master, the Level to the Senior Grand Warden 
and the Plumb to the Junior Grand Warden; 
when all descended to the stone and placed 
themselves around it as follows : the Grand 
Master at the East, the Deputy Grand Master 
at the North, the Senior Grand Warden at the 
West, and the Junior Grand Warden at the 
South. The Grand Master (assisted by some 
workmen ready for the purpose) then spread 
the cement upon the lower stone and directed 
the upper one to be lowered to its place. This, 
a block of granite of the same size as the one 
below, six feet in length, four in width, two in 
thickness and weighing four and a half tons, 
having been suspended by a strong derrick; 
and at signals given, was lowered at three sep- 
arate intervals, the Grand Honors being given 
by all the assembled brethren at each stoppage 
of the stone. When it had been adjusted in its 



place, the Grand Master pointed the cement 
about its edges, and then, addressing the Dep- 
uty Grand Master, said : 

" Brother Deputy Grand Master, what is the 
jewel of your office ? " 

Deputy Grand Master : " The Square. Most 
Worshipful." 

Grand Master: "Then you will apply the 
S(iuare to those portions of the stone which 
should be squared." 

The Deputy Grand Master then applied the 
square to the various corners of the stone, and 
responded : 

" I have obeyed your order, Most Worshipful 
Grand Master, and find in that respect the 
Craftsmen have done their duty." 

The Grand Master then addressed the Senior 
Grand Warden, saying : 

" Brother Senior Grand Warden, what is the 
jewel of your office ? " 

Senior Grand Warden: "The Level, Most 
Worshipful." 

Grand Master: "You will apply the Level 
to the stone and see if it be laid in a manner 
creditable to our Ancient Craft." 

The Senior Grand Warden then applied the 
Level to the surface of the stone, and responded : 

" I have obeyed your order. Most Worship- 
ful Grand Master, and find that the stone has 
been well leveled by the Craftsmen." 

The Grand Master then addressed the Junior 
Grand Warden, saying: 

" Brother Junior Grand Warden, what is the 
jewel of your office ? " 

Junior Grand Warden : "The Plumb, Most 
Worshipful." 

Grand Master : " You will apply the Plumb 
to the stone and see if it has been properly ad- 
ju.sted." 

The Junior Grand Warden then tried the sev- 
eral sides of the stone with the Plumb, and re- 
sponded : 

" I have obeyed your order. Most Worshipful 
Grand Master, and find that the work of the 
Craftsmen in that respect has been skillfully 
performed." 

The (.>rand Master then giving the stone 
three blows with his gavel, said : 

"The Craftsmen having faithfully and skill- 
fully thus far performed their duty, I declare 
this foundation stone to be well formed, true 
and trusty. May the monument which is to 
rest upon it, remain throughout the ages an 
eloquent, albeit a silent testimony of the faith- 
ful patriot in whose honor it is to be erected, 
that cannot be forgotten, and that his memory 
will be more enduring even, than such a work 
of any human hands. May the entire work be 
completed by the Craftsmen, the Architect and 
Sculptor, and all engaged therein, in peace, 
love, and harmony — they suffering no conten- 
tion among themselves except that noble and 
fraternal one as to who best can work and best 
agree." 

The Grand Marshal then distributed the ves- 
sels of Corn, Wine and Oil, respectively, to the 
Deputy Grand Master, the Senior Grand Ward- 



i6 



en and the Junior Grand Warden, the Band 
meanwhile playing a joyous air. 

The Deputy Grand Master then poured the 
Corn upon the stone, saying: 

"May the Grand Architect of the Universe 
strengthen and sustain the Craftsmen while 
engaged in this important work; and may He 
ever bountifully vouchsafe the Corn of nour- 
ishment to all employed in honest and useful 
toil." 

The Senior Grand Warden then poured the 
Wine upon the stone, saying : 

" May the Great Giver of all good enable the 
Craftsmen in due time to complete this beauti- 
ful structure; and, during their intervals from 
labor, may they constantly be blessed with that 
refreshment of which this Wine is emblemati- 
cal." 

The Junior Grand Warden then poured the 
Oil upon the stone, saying: 

"May the blessing of Heaven descend upon 
this and all good works ; and may our loved 
Fraternity long exist to pour forth the Oil of 
Joy upon the hearts of the widowed, the 
fatherless and the distressed." 

The Grand Master then said : 

" May the all-bounteous Author of Creation 
lend aid to those who have conceived and thus 
far carried on this goodly enterprise ; may he 
protect the workmen employed upon this 
monument from every accident, and long pro- 
tect it for the object which it is destined to 
subserve ; and may He grant to us all au ever- 
bountiful supply of the Corn of Nourishment, 
the Wine of Refreshment, and the Oil of Joy." 

Then addressing the Principal Architect and 
directing the several Working Tools to be 
placed in his hands, the Grand Master said : 

" Brother Principal Architect : Relying upon 
your skill in our noble art, I now confide to 
you these implements of Operative Masonry. 
May this undertaking be speedily accom- 
plished ; may there be no envy, discord or 
confusion among the workmen ; and may you 
perform the important duties with which you 
have been charged, not only to the satisfaction 
of those who have entrusted you with their 
fulfillment, but in such a manner as shall 
secure the approbation of your own conscience 
and redound to the honor of our Ancient 
Craft." 

The Grand Master and his Officers then re- 
turned to their seats, while the Choir sang the 
following Ode : 

ODE. 
(Tune — UxBRiDGE.) 
Great God of Nations ! now to Thee 
Our hymn of gratitude we raise ; 
With humble heart and bending knee, 
We offer Thee our song of praise. 

When driven by oppression's rod, 

Our fathers fled across the sea ; 
Their care was first to honor God, 

And next to leave their children free. 

Here Freedom spreads her banner wide 
And casts her soft and hallowed ray ; 

Here Thou our father's steps did guide 
In safety through their dangerous way. 

We praise Thee that Thine Oivn Great Light, 
Through all our land its radiance sheds , 

Dispels the shades of Error's night, 
And heavenly blessings round us spreads. 



The Grand Master then stepped upon the 
stone and gave the order to Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, who signaled to the signal officer 
stationed a little below, who signaled to the 
ships of war, the Philadelphia and Monadnock, 
in the harbor, which immediately thundered 
forth a Rear Admiral's salute >from their heavy 
guns, while three rousing cheers were given by 
the vast atidience assembled upon the slopes of 
the hill, the whole being a panorama and pic- 
ture of indescribable grandeur and beauty, of 
mountain, valley and sea, of ships of war 
wreathed in clouds of white smoke and the 
sharp flashes of fire, with the thundering roar 
of the cannon shaking the hills and their 
echoes reverberating and rolling far beyond up 
the distant valleys, made a scene that will 
never be forgotten by those who witnessed it 
and participated in it. 

The (irand Master then introduced W. Bro. 
Jacob Voorsanger, the Grand Orator of the 
Grand Lodge, who delivered an eloquent 
oration which was highly appreciated by all 
and met with frequent and hearty applause. 

He said : 

"Today the roll of honor of California is 
unrolled, and thirty years after his death the 
name of John D. Sloat is mentioned by the 
populace as that of the man who opened the 
gates of California and gave it rank among 
the States of the free Republic of the West. 

" It is not often that the roll of honor is 
opened, and happy is the man who thirty years 
after his death is thus honored. John Drake 
Sloat stands to-day as one of the most distin- 
guished officers of the United States Navy. The 
lives of him and his men were forever at his 
country's call. He sailed his ship over the 
ocean in unknown seas, blindly following his 
duty to his country." 

The reverend speaker said that there were 
two ways of opening a new country. One was 
by taking forcible possession, the other by 
colonization. He gave a short history of these 
methods, bringing his subject down to modern 
times, when the Anglo-Saxon and Spaniard set 
the example of colonization. These two peo- 
ples met here in the West, and the Anglo- 
Saxon stem proved to be the better ; so when 
the American flag was hoisted at Monterey, it 
was a sign that the country should be no 
longer subject to a few hidalgos or a few 
churches, but on the contrary to a new regime 
under which the citizen owed no allegiance but 
to the glorious flag above him. And so this 
gathering had not been held to lay the corner- 
stone and to honor Sloat's memory alone, but 
to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of 
liberty on the Pacific shores. 

The rabbi dwelt at some length on the possi- 
bilities of the future and the destinies of 
America. In couchision he prayed that heaven 
might grant the boon that in church and 
school the native .sons and datighters might be 
worthy to stand for all time with their brothers 
and sisters of all America. As the years pass, 
so, too, he hoped the monument to John D. 
Sloat at Monterey would, in the language of 
granite, salute and welcome ships from the 




HON. HORACK DAVIS, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 
Ex Member of Congress from California. Member of the Board of Regents of the State University of California. 
Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association of California. 

A worthy son of " Honest John Davis,'' Governor of Massachusetts. The sonin-law of the late gifted, eloquent 
and devoted patriot, Rev. Thomas Starr King. A true patriot and faithful public servant of the People of Califor- 
nia while iu Congress, where he made a splendid record. 




COIv. THEODORE H. GOODMAN, 
Ov San Francisco, Cal. 
General Passenger Agent of the Southern Pacific R. R. Co. Active Member of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion. Member of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army of the Republic. A true and tried soldier and officer 
of the Union Army during the War of the Rebellion. 'Whcu you start for Paradise, see that your ticket bears his 
signature, or you will be apt to get on the wrong road. 




'ftJW^i~V^ 





LIEUT. J. PvEYNOI^DS LANDIS, U. S. A. 

First Regiment of Cavalry. 

Aide-de-Camp to Gen. James W. Forsyth, U. S. A., 
Commanding Department of California. 

Appointed by orders from the Secretary of War to 
make the selection of the site lor the Sloat Monument 
at Monterey, Cal. 

Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 



CAPT. CASSIUS E. GILLETTE, 

Of the U. S. Kngineers, 

Who assisted in making the location of the site for the 
Sloat Monument, at Monterey, Cal. 
Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 





MAJOR EDWIN A. SHERMAN, 
Ok Oakland, Cal. 
Secretary of the Sloat Monument Association, and 
who assisted in locating the site for the Sloat Monu- 
ment at Monterey, Cal. 



CAPT. THOMAS G. LAMBERT, 
Of Monterey, Cal. 
Receiver of the Sloat Monument Association, and who 
assisted in the locating of the site for the Sloat Monu- 
ment, at Monterey, Cal. 



The site for the Sloat Monument was selected on Thursday, May 27th, 1896, on the Military 
Reservation, at Monterey, California, in pursuance of orders from the Hon. Daniel Lamont, 
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. 



17 



West as they came into the bay from foreign 
lands. 

The grand chaplain pronounced the benedic- 
tion, while the Masons and spectators stood 
with heads bowed and uncovered and the cere- 
mony of laying the corner stone of the Sloat 
Monument by the Grand Lodge of Masons of 
California was done. The procession was re- 
formed and the Grand Lodge marched to the 
hall of Monterey Lodge No. 217, F. & A. M., 
which had thus celebrated its Silver Wedding 
and the Grand Lodge was closed in Ample 
Form. 

[It was greatly to be regretted that the 
Manager of the Executive Committee at Mon- 
terej' had made no provision for refreshments 
for the Grand Lodge when so much money 
had been contributed from abroad, and ample 
to have furnished a generous collation ; but it 
was owing to the neglect and incompetency of 
the " Director-General," so-called. E. A. S.] 

Executive Committee ok the Si,oat Monu- 
ment Association ok California. 

Dr. Washington Aver, President, San Fran- 
cisco. 

Capt. Wm. L. Duncan, First Vice-President, 
San Francisco. 

Col. Jos. Stewart (U. S. A. ret.), Second Vice- 
President, Berkeley. 

Major Edwin A. Sherman, Secretary, Oak- 
land. 

Hon. Geo. C. Perkins (U. S. Senator), Treas- 
urer, Oakland. 

Capt. Thos. G. Lambert, Receiver, Monte- 
rey. 

John A. Cooper, Sergeant at-Arms, San Fran- 
cisco. 

The first six officers and the following gentle- 
men compose the Executive Committee : 

Hon. William M. Boggs, of Napa. 

Hon. Jesse D. Carr, of Monterey. 

Hon. Irving M. Scott, of San Francisco. 

Dr. James L. Cogswell, of San Francisco, 

Col. Frank Pierce, of San Francisco. 

Rev. A. A. McAlister, U. S. Navy. 

Hon. Wm. Frank Pierce, of Oakland. 

PART 2. 

The arrival of the trains from San Francisco 
and elsewhere an hour earlier than was ex- 
pected brought the Associated Veterans of 
the Mexican War and the Society of California 
Pioneers, which were soon followed by other 
Veterans of the Mexican War from Stockton, 
Sacramento, Sonoma, Los Angeles and other 
localities with other Pioneers and a vast num- 
ber of people besides. 

The Society of California Pioneers having 
provided refreshments from San Francisco, at 
their chosen headquarters, they invited the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican War to be 
their guests and share their hospitality with 
them as there had been no provision made for 
them whatever by the incompetent manager of 
the local Executive Committee. 

The frequent changes made by the local 
committee and its manager as to the lines of 
formation produced confusion in orders, differ- 



ent from those arranged by the Grand Mar- 
shal and the Chairman of the Committee of 
Arrangements of the Associated Veterans of 
the Mexican War, caused much vexation and 
delay, but at last matters were half-way 
straightened out, and the procession moved, 
with a portion of it going with the current and 
in a state of bewilderment and doubt. 

The route of procession was from Del Norte 
depot along Perry street to Washington, to 
Franklin, to Pearl, to Alvarado, and thence to 
the Custom House. 

The First Division was led by Grand Marshal 
Jacob R. Leese and aids followed by Companies 
D and F of the United States Artillery. Then 
came the band from the flagship Philadelphia, 
followed by the white battalion of that ship 
and of the Monadnock, under the command of 
Lieutenant Commander Royal R. Ingersoll, 
Troop C of Cavalrj', Capt. Burke of the Nation- 
al Guard of California of Salinas. 

The military and naval parade moved with 
precision, while the elasticity and beauty of 
the general harmony of the movement of the na- 
val brigade in marching with an ease and grace 
was admirable, and in marked contrast to that 
of the machine-like accuracy that character- 
izes the army drill, yet both equally eflfective 
in time of action. They were greeted with 
rousing cheers by the people. 

The Second Division was led by Major Sid- 
ney J. Loop, President of the Veterans of the 
Mexican War, numbering in all about 150 from 
all parts of the State, who were immediately 
followed bp the Hon. Niles Searles, Vice- 
President of the Society of California Pioneers, 
and others, and about the same number, of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, who were 
also greeted with a like demonstration of ap- 
plause. 

Then came a float with a cannon and em- 
blems and upon it standing erect with her 
right hand resting upon an American shield 
and her left holding a rod with the Phrj^gian 
Cap upon it, was Miss Edna Ingram, gracefully 
attired as the Goddess of Liberty, Behind her 
came the Living Flag of 200 little girls dressed 
in red, white and blue, led by A, W, Jones, and 
making a handsome appearance. 

Then came in a carriage two special Maids 
of Honor to California, Miss Alice Stewart 
(daughter of Col. Joseph Stewart of the U. S. 
A. retired) representing the U. S. Army, and 
Miss Alice G. Cutts (great grand-daughter of 
Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star 
Spangled Banner) representing the U. S. Navy. 

Then came the chief float, upon it in front 
a representation of the old Custom House at 
Monterey, in the center a huge dolphin with a 
throne upon its back, and behind it a grizzly 
bear erect by a block of granite. On this 
float appeared California in gorgeous golden 
robes represented by Miss Marian S. Barney of 
Oakland, the great grand-daughter of Col. 
Jonathan D. Stevenson ; in front of her Miss 
Schaufele. who represented Monterey, and Miss 
Rogers, Pacific Grove, carrying the golden 
key between them. There were also upon the 
float a part of California's special Maids of 
Honor, all but one being daughters and grand- 



daughters of veterans of the Mexican War. 
Miss Camilla Johnston, of Oakland ; Misses 
Daisy D. and Ruth Wright of Pacific Grove 
(both natives of Monterey, the first having 
been born in the old Custom House) Misses 
Louise E. M.Knudson, Agnes Lange, Kathleen 
Mullen, Ivouise Heron of San Francisco and 
Miss Anna A. Ketchum of Stockton. 

This float was followed by carriages contain- 
ing the representatives of the counties of the 
State, carrying beautiful silk banners ot red, 
white and blue, respectively : Alameda, Miss 
Violet C. Lubbock ; Butte, Miss Bessie Collins ; 
Colusa, Miss Mae Green ; Contra Costa, Miss 
Clara K. Wittenmeyer ; Los Angeles, Miss 
Pearlie Gleason ; Lake, Miss ; 

Marin, Miss Alice M. Watson; Monterey, Miss 
Grace E. Burr; Napa, Miss Fowler ; Placer, Miss 
Clara Wortell ; Sacramento, Miss Cora Ham- 
mer ; San Francisco, Miss Constance Lawrence ; 
San Joaquin, Miss Ellen Patton ; Santa 
Clara, Miss ; Santa Cruz, 

IMiss Anna Struve ; Solano, Miss Marie En- 
glish ; San Luis Obispo, Miss Dicie May 
Graves ; Yuba, Miss Nellie O'Brien. The 
other counties were represented by young 
ladies as proxies but ihe names could not be 
learned. 

These were followed by the Grand Parlor of 
Native Daughters, Native Sons of the Golden 
West, Boards of Supervisors, Monterey County 
Officials, Monterey City Officials, Pacific Grove 
Officials and State Officials. 

The Third Division, with firemen as escort, 
followed by the Foresters of America with a 
float representing a cabin in the woods. It 
was a fine realistic representation, with the 
men appropriately dressed, and the presence of 
a live deer upon it as well made it very true to 
nature. These were followed by the Odd 
F'ellows, Knights of Pythias, A. O. U. W., with 
float, and other civic societies. 

The Fourth Division contained the Presi- 
dent, Officers of the day. Admiral S. A. Beards- 
lee and staff and other Vice-Presidents and 
citizens in carriages. 

The whole procession was cheered along the 
line from the beginning to the end, and as 
California with her Maids of Honor and the 
representatives of the several counties alighted 
at the grandstand, a general shout of welcome 
greeted them from the Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War, the Pioneers and the vast multitude 
of people that had gathered, while in front 
drawn up on two sides of a square which was 
kept open, were aligned the Naval Battalion 
under command of Lieut. Commander Royal 
R. Ingersoll, and at the foot of the flagstaff" 
stood Lieut. Roper of the Monad- 

nock with a group of half a dozen or so of 
men who had served under Commodore Sloat 
and were at Monterey with him fifty years 
before, in the frigate Savannah, Cyane and the 
Levant sloops of war. Thomas Bralee of Mon- 
terey, John D. Richards of Montana, James 
Buchanan of Yountville. 

The grand stand was completely filled with 
the Veterans of the Mexican War, Pioneers, 
Living Flag, and invited guests and officers of 



the day with the following full list of Vice- 
Presidents, the most of whom were present : 

Hon. Stephen M. White and George C. Per- 
kins, U. S. vSt;nators, and Hon. James McLach- 
lan, J. G. Maguire, E. F. Loud, W. W. Bowers 
and J. A. Barham, of the Congressional delega- 
tion from California. Gen. James W. Forsyth, 
U. S. A., and Admiral Lester A. Beardslee, 
U. S. N., Col. O. D. Greene. Lieut.-Colonels 
Evan Miles, L. B. M. Young, J. G. C. Lee, J. V. 
D. Middleton, A. S. Kimball, Majors A. C. 
Bates, B. F. Pope, Tully McCrea, Surgeon C. C. 
Munn, Judge Advocate L. W .Groesbeck, U. S. 
A., Col. Joseph Stewart, U. S. A. (retired), Cols. 
J. W. McKenzie, W. C. Burnett, A. Andrews, 
Major S. J. Loop, John L. Bromley, C. Lange, 
A. McDonald, Gen. Thomas A. Ketcham, V. 
M. W., Rear Admirals D. B. Harmony and 
Kirkland, Captains Henry L. Howison, George 
W. Sumner, Albert S. Barker, Charles S. Cot- 
ton and Nicoll Ludlow, Commanders Charles 
G. Clark, B. H. McCalla, George W. Pipman, 
Lieut. -Commander Royal R. Ingersoll, Inspector 
James A. Hawke, Paymasters Wm. J. Thomp- 
son and Henry T. Skelding, Chief Engineers 
George F. Keutz and John Lowe, and Major 
Percival of the U. S. Navy, Gen. R. H. War- 
field, N. G. C, Cols. Charles Fred Crocker, 
Theo. H. Goodman and Frank Pierce, Dr. Wash- 
ington Ayer, Hon. Jesse D. Carr, Irving M. 
Scott, Wm. M. Boggs, W. F. Pierce, W. S. 
Green, W. W. Morrow, O. S. Henderson, W. H. 
Beatty, L. R. EUert, Thomas Harris, Adolph 
Sutro, W. M. Bunker. H. N. Tilden, Niles 
Searles, Jacob H. Neff, W. T. Wallace, H. C. 
Gesford, Edward Ingram, T. J. Field, D. J. 
Murphy, J. R. Campbell, Revs. Jacob Voorsan- 
ger. Rev. P. W. Riordan, W. F. Nichols and 
Horatio Stebbins, Dr. James L. Cogswell, Ed- 
ward Taylor, James D. Phelan, Joseph Figel, 
Samuel W. Levy. S. H. Collins, Raphael Weill, 
O. S. Trimmer, M. H. De Young, C. M. Short- 
ridge, W. R. Hearst, Hugh Craig, John Rosen- 
feld, W. C. Ralston and others. 

When all had taken their places, Major Ed- 
win A. Sherman, Chairman of the Committee 
of Arrangements of the Associated Veterans of 
the Mexican War, introduced Hon. Edward 
Ingram, Mayor of Monterey, who delivered the 
following brief but appropriate address of wel- 
come : 

" President Loop and Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War : By 3'our patriotic devotion to coun- 
try, by your heroic deeds of valor upon the 
fields of battle, this golden Pacific was brought 
beneath the folds of the stars and stripes, the 
glorious emblem of our country. For fifty 
years has this gem been set in Columbia's jew- 
eled crown, and now, upon the occasion of this 
semi-centennial celebration, the citizens of 
California's ancient capital extend to yoir as a 
token of their cordial welcome their hands, 
their hearts and their home that you may par- 
ticipate in the festivities that commemorate the 
day on which the gallant Sloat flung to the 
breeze the proud banner of this great Nation." 

To which President Loop replied as follows : 
" Hon. Mayor Ingram and citizens of Mon- 
terey: Accept the thanks of the Veterans of 








WAvSHINGTON AVER, M. D., 

Of iSAN Francisco, Cal. 

President of the Sloat ^Monument Association of California. Kx Vice-Piesident of the Society of California 

Pioneers. Ex-.VIeinber of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco. }-;x-Menilier of the 

Board of Education of the City and County of San Francisco. E.x-President of the Medical ;Society of California, 

etc., etc.. etc., etc. 




,^ A 




J 



HON. NILE.S vSKARLKvS, 
Ok San Francisco, Cai.. 
Vice-President of Society of California Pioneers. 
Hon. Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 
K.x-judge of the Supreme Court of California, 
Commissioner of the SM])reme C'^ui t o( Cnlifurnia. 
Etc , ttc, etc. 



HON. JOHxX F. rixN'KHAM, 
Ok San Francisco, Cal. 
Marshal of the Society of California Pioneers. 
II.1U. >'enilier of the Sloat Monument .Association. 




COLONEL CHARLES FRED CROCKER, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 

Vice-President of the Southern Pacific R. R. Co. 

Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association of California. 

His public and private benefactions are innumerable. His gifts to the Lick Observatory and to the State Uni- 
versity at Berkeley, and to the Stanford University in the cause of science; to the Masons' Widows' and Orphans' 
Home, and other charitable institutions, as well a? the private generosity of this Native Son of the Golden We.st, 
whom we have known from his childhood, and his liberality in the promotion of the patriotic enterprises in Cali- 
fornia, are worthy of praise. He rebuilt and restored Sutter's Fort at Sacramento, and aided the Sloat Monument 
Association, for which we have not words to express our gratitude and praise.— E A. S. 



/ 








HON. IRVING M. SCOTT, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 
Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association of California. 

The Master Builder and Naval Architect of California in particular, of the United States in general, and ol the 
Globe. Tubal Cain and Vulcan, both afloat and on shore. The "Charleston,'' " San Francisco,' "Monterey, 
"Olympia," and the "Oregon " proclaim the Iron King of California, and soon he will be known as the "Steel 
Crowned Kmperor of the Pacific, " and be hailed as the "Great Scott of Anieriga," Long life aud success to our 
patriot)? builder of our Vessels of War.— K. A. S. 



19 



the Mexican War and their friends from all 
parts of our loved California who have come 
here to assist in celebrating once more on this 
historic spot the event of half a century ago, 
for the kind welcome received at your hands. 

" Ten years ago we came here and celebrated 
the Fortieth Anniversary as we now do today, 
but then not on such an extensive scale. 

"On March 14th, 1895, at a meeting of the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican War, held 
in San Francisco, our comrade INIajor Rdwin A. 
Sherman offered a resolution that a committee 
of three be appointed to make arrangements to 
celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the taking 
possession of California and the Raising of the 
American Flag at Monterey on July 7th, 1846, 
which was unanimously adopted. As President 
of the Association I appointed Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, Col. Joseph Stewart and Col. W. C. 
Burnett as the committee of arrangements. 
The latter's continual absence from the State 
necessitate! the appointment of Comrade C. 
Lange, Vice-President, in his place. How w'ell 
and faith full}' their duties have been performed 
this demonstration of their comrades and fel- 
low citizens will attest. 

" Major Sherman, as chairman of the Commit- 
tee, had acted in that capacity ten years ago, 
and which then proved to be a grand success. 
One year ago he went to Washington at his 
own expense, and secured the promised aid 
and cooperation of the Secretaries of the Navy 
and of the War Departments, whose promises 
have been most faithfully carried out as the 
presence of these arms of the service in the 
persons of Admiral Beardslee with his squad- 
ron, and Major McCrae with two batteries of 
light artillery by order of Gen. Forsyth, are 
here to attest. 

"The chairman of our Committee of Arrange- 
ments has faithfully served without compensa- 
tion or reward, satisfied with having at great 
self-sacrifice brought his plans to a glorious 
success, the result of his untiring patriotic de- 
votion and labors, in the laying the Founda- 
tion Stone of the Sloat Monument by the Grand 
Lodge of Masons of this State, and this cele- 
bration that we now have in hand. (Applause). 
One word about the ' Bo3's of Fifty Years Ago,' 
for there are some here to day, that were here 
then, to aid in hoisting that flag, and the great 
majority who fought to secure it there, who 
served under Generals Taylor and Scott from 
the Rio Grande to the City of Mexico, and 
made it permanent for all time. Native daugh- 
ter and Native Son, be kind and forbear with 
the veteran of 1846-7-8. Remember the vast 
empire acquired by his valor and privation, 
both on land and sea, that he has given you, 
and if he is a ' back number,' turn the last 
leaves of his life over gently. 

"Fellow citizens, I had hoped to have had 
the pleasure of introducing to you as President 
of the day, a man who has proved himself the 
friend of the old veteran by making this 7th 
day of July a State holiday, and again when 
there were reports that the State appropriations 
for the maintenance of our comrades at the 
Soldiers' Home was in danger, I telegraphed 
him, and within an hour the reply came : "Do 
not worry, the veterans are all right." Illness 



has kept our most excellent Governor, James 
H. Rudd, from being present; but our Commit- 
tee has presented us with a most able and 
worthy substitute, and it now gives me great 
pleasure to introduce to you the Hon. James 
McLachlan, the Congressman from this dis- 
trict, the President of the Day." 

The remarks of President Loop and the re- 
ception of Hon. James McLachlan, President 
of the Day, were met with rounds of applause. 

Congressman McLachlan, as President of the 
Day, spoke as follows : 

" Ladies and Gentlemen. When I received a 
message last Saturday, asking me to come here 
and act as presiding officer of this day, I re- 
gretted exceedingly that I had not more time 
in which to prepare myself. But, fellow-citi- 
zens, I am sure that you did not come here to- 
day to listen to any remarks from the presiding 
officer, whoever he might be. 

"The committee of arrangements has select- 
ed those who are to recount to you the mean- 
ing of this great day, and you are here to 
listen to what they may say. 

" F'ellow citizens of Monterey, this is a day of 
interest, not only to the citizens of Monterey, 
not only to the citizens of California, but it is 
a day which every citizen of the great United 
States of America takes pride in celebrating. 

" I am glad to-day that I am here in some 
small degree representing the Government at 
Washington, to show the interest that the great 
Government of the United States takes in this 
occasion. If Commodore Sloat were here to- 
day no one would be more surprised than he at 
the assembled multitude he would see before 
him. 

" We are here to do honor to him to-day and 
those brave veterans who made it possible for 
the flag which he raised — our flag — to continue 
to float forever from that pole upon which he 
raised it upon that day. 

" Little did Commodore Sloat dream of the 
great importance to this Nation of the land that 
he declared on that day a portion of the United 
States of America. 

"The Government at Washington, my friends, 
almost condemned him for the act which he 
then committed, claiming that the territory 
which he had acquired by his act was not worth 
the sacrifice that it cost, nor the sacrifice that 
would be required to maintain it as a portion 
of the United States of America. But within a 
few short years the hills and gulches of Califor- 
nia gave forth her millions of riches, gold that 
even Commodore Sloat did not suspect lay hid- 
den there. During the great struggle for the 
existence of this Government and to maintain 
the supremacy of this flag, no portion of the 
United States contributed so much to maintain 
the supremacy of the Nation during that try- 
ing period as did the territory acquired by 
Commodore Sloat in raising that flag. 

"Comrades of the Mexican War, we are here 
also to pay tribute to you, for, as I said, by 
your gallant efforts it has been possible for us 
to continue to allow that flag to float here over 
a portion of the United States. We assure you 
that in times to come, as in the past, we shall 
do everything to maintain that flag inviolate." 



20 



The flagship baud played national airs, and 
was joined by the people, whose voices, attuned 
to patriotic feeling, sounded a grand anthem. 
As the notes died away. Rev. A. A. McAllister, 
U. S. N., delivered a prayer and all heads were 
bowed. 

PRAYER. 

"O God, King of Kings, and Ruler of the 
Universe, we praise Thy name for the blessings 
which Thou has bestowed on us as a people, 
but especially for giving us a mild and benevo- 
lent government, material prosperity and civil 
and religious liberty. In Thy wise providence 
Thou saw fit to add to the immense area of our 
territory, the lands of this vast State, when 
they were yet unexplored and almost uninhab- 
ited, that in future generations it might become 
the home of a progressive and enlightened 
people. Make us deeply sensible of our re- 
sponsibility as a Nation for the wise and pru- 
dent management of this portion of Thy world 
which Thou hast committed to our care. Gra- 
ciously remember our neighbors at the south, 
and grant them peace and prosperity. May we 
be disposed to cultivate fraternal affection for 
each other; and though we remain separate 
nations, may we be united as members of the 
great family of American republics. Imbue 
our minds with a keen sense of personal honor 
and patriotism; take from us pride, prejudice 
and uncharitableness; and may we be ever 
ready to ofl"er ourselves, our services and our 
fortunes, if necessary, for the good of our coun- 
try. 

" We thank Thee for the memory of the patri- 
ots whose chief we have assembled this day to 
honor. May iheir example animate us to deeds 
worthy of their successors in this glorious 
national inheritance, and arouse us to vigilance 
in preserving the patriotic principles of the 
founders of the nation. And while we enjoy 
the confluence of blessings which are the result 
of the wisdom, diligent study and untiring 
efforts of all great and good men from the time 
of the apostles and martyrs to our own day, 
may we bear in mind that it is not our own 
power and the might of our own arm, which 
has gotten us this wealth of civilization, but 
that Thou dost live and govern all things both 
in heaven and earth. 

" Hear our prayer, for the sake of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. Amen." 

RE.\DING OF COMMODORE JOHN D. SI,OAT'S 
PROCIvAMATION. 

Lieut. James Bayard Whittemore, the oldest 
grandson of Commodore Sloat, then read the 
original proclamation of Commodore Sloat, in 
the handwriting of his aide-de-cainp and signal 
ofiicer, Midshipman William P. Toler. It was 
read the first time fifty years before, by Purser 
Rodman M. Price, U. S. N., afterwards Gover- 
nor of New Jersey. Lieut. Whittemore read it 
ten years ago at the same place. There were 
originally three copies, and the one read be- 
longs to the vSociety of California Pioneers of 
San Francisco. 

"To the Inhabitants of California : 

"The Central Government of Mexico having 
commenced hostilities against the United States 
of America by invading its territory and attack- 



ing the troops, on the north side of the Rio 
Grande, and with a force of 7,000 men under 
Gen. Arista, which army was totally destroyed 
on the 8th and 9th of May last by a force of 
2,300 men under Gen. Taylor, and the city of 
Matamoras taken,and the two nations being ac- 
tually at war by this transaction, I shall hoist 
the standard of the United States immediately 
and shall carry it throughout California. I de- 
clare to the inhabitants of California that, al- 
though I come in arms with a powerful force, 
I do not come among them as an enemy to 
California; on the contrary, I come as their 
best friend, as henceforward California will be 
a portion of the United States, and its peaceful 
inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and priv- 
ileges as the citizens of any other portion of 
that territory, with all the rights and privileges 
they now enjoy, together with the privilege of 
choosing their own magistrates and other offi- 
cers for the administration of justice among 
themselves; and the same protection will be 
extended to them as to any other State in the 
Union. 

"They will also enjoy a permanent govern- 
ment, under which life, property, and the con- 
stitutional right and lawful .security to worship 
the Creator in the way most congenial to each 
one's sense of duty, will be secured, which un- 
fortunately the Central Government of Mexico 
cannot afford them, destroyed as her resources 
are by internal factions and corrupt officers, 
who create constant revolutions to promote 
their own interests and oppress the people. 

" Under the flag of the United States Califor- 
nia will be free from all such trouble and ex- 
pense; consequently the country will rapidly 
advance and improve, both in agriculture and 
commerce, as, of course, the revenue laws will 
be the same in California as in all other parts 
of the United States, affording them all manu- 
factures and produce of the United States free 
of any duty, and all foreign goods at one quar- 
ter of the duty they now pay. A great increase 
in the value of real estate and the products of 
California may also be anticipated. With the 
great interest and kind feelings I know the 
government and people of the United vStates 
possess towards the citizens of California, the 
country cannot but improve more rapidly than 
ony other on the continent of America. Such 
of the inhabitants of California, whether native 
or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept 
of the high privileges of citizenship and to live 
peaceably under the government of the United 
States, will be allowed time to dispose of their 
property and to remove out of the country, if 
they choose, without any restriction; or remain 
in it, observing strict neutrality. With full 
confidence in the honor and integrity of the in- 
habitants of the country, I invite the judges, 
alcaldes and other civil officers to retain their 
offices, and to execute their functions as here- 
tofore, that the public tranquility may not be 
disturbed; at least until the government of the 
territory can be more definitely arranged. 

" All persons holding title to real estate, or 
in quiet possession of lands under a color of 
right, shall have those titles and rights guaran- 
teed to them. 

" All churches and the property they contain, 



21 



in possession of the clergy of California, shall 
continue in the same rights and possessions 
they now enjoj'. 

"All provisions and supplies of every kind 
furnished by the inhabitants for the use of the 
United States ships and soldiers will be paid 
for at fair rates; and no private property will 
be taken for public use without just compensa- 
tion at the moment. 

"JOHN D. vSLOAT, 
"Commander-in-Chief of the United States 
Naval Force in the Pacific Ocean." 

Great applause followed the reading. 
SONG. 

Mrs. C. C. Dodge, of Oakland, then sang 
"The Flag that Stirs our Soul," in a rich, 
strong voice that made the plaintive air quite 
inspiring. 



Second R.\ising in Fifty Years of the 
Stars and Stripes on the Old Flag- 
Staff BY William P. Toler, Commodore 
Sloat's Aide-de-Camp and Signal Offi- 
cer. 

The President of the Day said that the most 
interesting character here to-day was William 
P. Toler, the very man who, fifty years ago, 
raised the American flag upon that pole. A 
shout of rousing cheers greeted this statement. 
Mr. Toler descended from the platform of the 
grand stand and made his way through the 
crowd and ranks of the Naval Battalion, and 
was received by I^ieut. Roper of the Monad- 
nock and escorted to the northwest corner of 
the Old Custom House beneath the staff, while 
a quarter-master of the Philadelphia bent the 
American flag on to the halyards, which were 
])laced in Mr. Toler's hands. Major Sherman 
called for three cheers for the American flag, 
and as it was hoisted by Mr. Toler with a vim 
and energy of half a century before, and his 
eyes sparkling with pride and pleasure, every- 
bod}' cheered as the Stars and Stripes began to 
unfold, but, as fifty years before, the halyards 
were cramped and had to be cleared; but when 
it reached mast-head and spread out full to the 
breeze, then occurred a scene the like of which 
is but seldom witnessed. People went fairly 
wild with patriotic enthusiasm. Hats and 
handkerchiefs were flung into the air; military 
reserve was forgotten in this wild burst of ap- 
plause. It was a mass of men, women and chil- 
dren cheering and cheering without restraint, 
with plaudits rolling like tlie ruml)le of distant 
thunder, but they were eloquently expressive 
of victory. 

As the flag flew to the top of the mast smoke 
and flame were seen issuing from the two white 
ships of war anchored a few hundred yards 
away. The air was filled with a riot of sounds, 
the crash of guns, multiplied in echoes, rising 
above the strains of "The Star-Spangled Ban- 
ner" by Uncle Sam's band. 

It was a touching sight to see the venerable 
veterans of the Mexican War behave like little 
boys let loose from school, and the children 
clapping hands and uniting their weakly voices, 
and California with her maids of honor, and the 
ladies singing bits of national songs, shaking 



hands, waving handkerchiefs high overhead 
and even cheering with the men. 

Meanwhile the sailors stood at " attention " 
unmoved. 

Then three cheers were proposed and given 
with great gusto in succession for Admiral 
Beardslee, for Sloat, for the Army and Navy, 
for the ladies, for the Philadelphia and for the 
Monadnock. 

Through it all the sailors maintained their 
accustomed reserve, but at the mention of " the 
ladies " they j'clled and waved their caps after 
a fashion that clearly indicated that they meant 
what tliay were doing. 

But the flag would not spread out. It hung 
obstinately — lazily it seemed— by the mast. A 
sailor climbed the pole, scrambled upon the 
verandah roof and released the stars and stripes. 

When Sloat raised his flag the same difficulty 
was met, and Edward Higgins, a midshipman 
of the United States Ship Cyane, climbed the 
pole and set it fluttering in the free sunshine. 

Higgins' brother was present to-daj' and was 
among those who remarked the strange coinci- 
dence. Many of the old men thought it was 
extraordinary, while some regarded it as mean- 
ingful. 

The probability is that the commodore's em- 
blem was raised on the same side of the mast, 
and having been blown against the pole became 
tangled with the ropes, for the days are much 
the same in Monterey in July now as they were 
a half century back. 

As soon as the prolonged cheer had come to 
a close, cheers and calls were delivered for 
everybody, everything patriotic, and several of 
them were given with a will for Mr. Toler. 

Somewhat overcome by his effort in the flag 
raising, Mr. Toler struggled back to the stand 
and took his seat. 

" Put Toler up where we can see him," cried 
a number, and after a while Mr. Toler was 
placed on a chair within sight of all. He was 
again and again cheered and requested to de- 
liver a speech. 

He bowed and bowed and appeared to be 
deeply affected. It took some time for the fer- 
vent, patriotic enthusiasm that stirred the peo- 
ple to subside. 

"What shall I say ?" asked Toler, turning to 
the president of the day. " What can I say ? " 

" Anything; a word to the people." 

" I will say just a word," said the veteran 
.sailor. 

" F'ellow citizens," said he, evidently stirred 
with strong emotions and under the influence 
of the excitement of the moment, "were it not 
for physical inability from which I have been 
suffering for some time, I would like to say a 
few words to you on so auspicious an occasion. 
It is the second time that I have raised the flag 
and it will be the last time." (We hope not," 
cried a number of the auditors). "As I say, 
owing to my physical inability, I am prevented 
from delivering a speech to you. I will now 
take my farewell. I wish you and your fami- 
lies every happiness and not only you but all 
the people of our beloved and united country." 

Mr. Toler then withdrew amid loud huzzas. 

Admiral Beardslee was called, and when pre- 



1i 



seated by the President of the Day thanked the 
assemblage for honoring him, and very modest- 
ly referred to himself, saying that it was merely 
by accident that he was present, and therefore 
he deserved no honors. 

" Admiral Sloat — for he died an admiral — will 
live forever in your hearts," he said. 

The crowd wanted Beardslee to share some 
of the honors, and applauded him most cordi- 
ally. 

The following telegrams were received and 
read: 

New York, July 7th, 1896. 
To the Chairman Semi-Centennial Celebration, 
Monterey, Cal.: 

The survivors of Stevenson's Regiment of 
New York Volunteers, quartered in the old 
historic town of Monterey during the years 
1847 to 1848, send from the Empire City of the 
Atlantic Coast their greeting to all former 
comrades and other early pioneers of Califor- 
nia, upon this, the Fiftieth (50th) Anniversary 
of the acquisition of California by the United 
States through the timely action of Commo- 
dore John D. Sloat. 

Francis D. Clark, President. 

Which was received with hearty applause. 
New York, July 7th, 1896. 
To the Chairman Semi-Centennial Celebration, 
Monterey, Cal.: 

The last of the Alcaldes of San Francisco, 
and brother of the first Alcalde of Monterey 
under the American occupation in 1846 (Rev. 
Walter Colton, Chaplain, U. S. N.,) sends his 
greeting to the citizens of Monterey and all 
old pioneers there assembled. 

Gardner Q. Coi,ton, 
President New York Society of California 
Pioneers. 

Which was also received with hearty ap- 
plause. 

The President of the Day then said : " The 
originator and projector of the celebration held 
here so successfully ten years ago, and also of 
this of the fiftieth anniversary of the raising of 
the American flag on that staff by order of 
Commodore Sloat fifty years ago, the corner- 
stone of whose monument on yonder hill has 
been laid today, the principal moving spirit of 
this grand jubilee on the Pacific shores of the 
American Republic, I take pleasure in now 
introducing to you. Major Edwin A. Sherman, 
a veteran of the Mexican War, the Orator of 
the Day." 

Major Sherman was greeted with rounds of 
cheers, as he came forward and delivered the 
following accurate historic and classic address 
which was frequently applauded : 
Mr. President, Comrade Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War, Brother Pioneers and Fellow 
Citizens : 

Ten years ago upon this historic spot, the 
few survivors of the Mexican War in California 
came hither to celebrate the Fortieth Anniver- 
sary of the taking possession of California and 
raising of the American flag upon yonder staff", 
by Commodore John Drake Sloat of the United 
States Navy, in obedience to the orders of the 
Government, and to secure it forever from the 



grasp of her ancient foe into whose hands 
California and her people, both native and 
foreign, were about to be sold and conveyed by 
the central government of Mexico in payment 
of the English debt. 

Ten years ago, we thought there would be 
but few of us left, of those who then came 
hither to celebrate that event, and would be 
here again on this semi centennial occasion to 
celebrate in a grander and more imposing man- 
ner than we did then ; and though four of our 
Past Presidents — Blanding, Kuipe, Hopkins 
and Deal — have since then been ordered to duty 
on the other side, the hand of Time has dealt 
gently with us, and eighty per cent, of our 
numbers still respond, when our names are 
called upon the roll, and we are here still to 
rejoice with our fellow citizens, over the wis- 
dom of our Government in securing this fair 
land from the grasp of unfriendly monarchical 
European power and control. 

The service we rendered our country upon 
the battlefields of Mexico while apparently 
one of conquest and spoilation and injustice 
towards a weaker nation at the time, and while 
different motives may have animated the pro- 
moters of the Mexican War with diff"erent 
objects to be secured, yet the far-seeing states- 
men of our country looked to the years beyond 
the conflict to be waged, and in which were 
enfolded the principles of the Monroe Doctrine 
to be developed and maintained by the Ameri- 
can arms and by American valor, with due 
notice given to England and to all Europe, 
" Hands off" from the continent of America 
and its affairs." 

It was the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine 
which asserted itself in the most emphatic 
manner, when John Tyler, President of the 
United States, on the first day of March, 1845 
(three days prior to the surrendering of his 
office to his successor, James K. Polk,), signed 
the act of the annexation of Texas, which was 
ratified on the following fourth of July by its 
Legislature, and the " Lone Star State" gravi- 
tated to the constellation of the American 
Union. 

Texas was unable to stand alone ; and pre- 
vious to the annexation both England and 
France were bitterly opposed to the measure, 
while the Northwestern boundary between the 
United States and British America was in an 
unsettled state, and the war spirit prevailed to 
that extent that the Democratic party displayed 
upon its banners the legend "54° 40' or Fight." 

The real issue involved was the diplomatic 
attempt of Great Britain to put up its barriers 
on the north and west of the American Repub- 
lic and hem it completely in, and thus control 
the North American continent entirely. She 
had been constantly playing her game for 
years, and she was as closel}' watched as a lion- 
ess by a band of hunters. 

P'rance at that time was favorable to Eng- 
land. 

Guizot, the Prime Minister of France, 
openly avowed the right of European nations 
to interfere in national aff"airs upon the Western 
Continent, to preserve the balance of power. 

England, thwarted in her plans in Texas, 
and jealous of the growing power and influ- 





MAJOR JOHX h. BROMLEY, 

Of Oakland, Cal. 

Ca^ifornia.^*""^^'' °^ ^''^ ^'°'" ^^°'^"'"^nt Association of 

la^d.'^^''^ °^ '''^ Mouumental City of Baltimore, Marj - 

«//if*'?,^"'°'" *^^^ Alameda County Society of Veterans 
of the Mexican War, and a Pioneer eierans 

He vvas a brave soldier and officer in the Battles in 
front of the City of Mexico in 1S47. A resoectable a. d 
honored citizen and a good man respectable and 



HON. WM. FRANK PIERCE, 
Of Oakland, Cal. 
Active Member of the Slorit Monument Association. 
Member of the Board of Directors of the Ma.sons' 
Widows' and Orphans' Home. 

A liberal and patriotic sentleman, and earnest pro- 
moter of the Sloat Monument enterprise. "^^ 1 'o 





DR. JAMES I.. COGSWELL, 

Ok San Francisco, Cal 

Cahfornir^'"^^'' °^ '^^ ■^'°'' Monument Association ol 

P.'cTo'''"^°^'^? Society of California Pioneers 
th^pic^^rcoa"!.'''^ ''^ ■'^'^^"'"^ ^^'-- Association of 
reproacif.^' gentleman, patriotic to the core, and abcve 



HON. JESSE D. CARR, 
Of Saunas, Montkrey County. Cal. 
Active Member of the Sloat Monument Association of 
California. 

E.\-Scnator from Mouterey County, of the Legislature 

California. ' * ' 

<)ueof the oldest and staunchest men of this State 

and an honest man. ' 





COL. WELLINGTON C. BURNETT, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 

Past President of the Associated Veterans of the Mex- 
ican War. 

He was 2ud Lievit. of 15th Regiment, U S. Infantry, 
and served with distinction in the battles of tne Valley 
of Mexico, the storming of the Castle of Chapullepec, 
and the capture of the City of Mexico in August and 
September, 1N47. 

Attorney at Law, and l'!x-District Attorney of the City 
and County of ^>au Francisco. 

Member of the sloat Mor.umeut Association, etc., elc. 



COL. FRANK PIERCE. 
Ok Oakland, Cal. 
Attorney at Law. 

Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 
Ex-American Consul at Matanzas, Cuba. 
The nephew of Gen. Franklin Pierce, Fx President of 
the t_Inited states, who won distinguished honors in the 
War with Me.xico. which led the way to his becoming 
I'resident of the I'nited States m March, ihSj. 





MRS. ELIZA A. PITTSINGER, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 

The Pioneer Poetess of California, and the author of 
" The Bugle Peals." 

She was the Poet on the occasion of the Celebration at 
Monterey, July 5th, 1886, and of that at the same place, 
on July 7th. iSy5, insisting on paying her own fare going 
and returning, her expenses while there, and giving her 
services gratuitously on both occasions. 

Such patriotism is indeed praiseworthy ai;d dcscrvi!i.g 
of mention. Her poem will speak for itself. 



MRS. BLAKE-ALVERSON, 
Ok Oakland, Cal. 

The favorite Songstress of the Oaks. 

This patriotic lady gave her services gratis at Mon- 
terey, July 7th, TS96. 

She is the daughter of the late Rev. Mr. Kroli, who 
was the intimate friend of Col. John C. Fremont, and 
helped to save him and his party Irom being starved to 
death in the Rocky Mountains in his explorations of 
iS,).s, and came through with him to California. He 
went to Col. hremoul's reliel from Fort Laramie. 



23 



ence of the United States, was determined to 
compensate herself in the payment of the debt 
due her subjects by Mexico, secretly negotiated 
with that Government for the sale of Califor- 
nia, while her powerful ships of war, like huge 
birds of prey, hovering along the Pacific Coast, 
were ready to seize possession and raise the 
British flag. 

This has latejy by so-called historians been 
denied ; yet the fact existed nevertheless and 
the American Government was fully aware of 
it. 

California was remote from the Central Gov- 
ernment of Mexico, which had neither power 
to protect or defend it from foes without, or 
prevent its secession if the people here so 
declared ; and what she could not keep or 
defend, she was disposed to sell and get rid of 
and thus pay her English debt. 

Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, whose 
birthday we also celebrate, was born here in 
Monterey, July yth, 1807, and after rising from 
subordinate military and civic positions, became 
the leader of a revolution here on the yth of 
November, 1836, in which California declared 
itself independent of Mexico and he became 
Commandante General of the new Republic, 
which lasted but a very short period, and was 
at the same time as the revolt and organization 
of the " L,one Star Republic of Texas." 

This state of aflfairs alarmed the Mexican 
Government and it was more disposed to nego- 
tiate with England for the sale of California to 
pay the English debt, and thus have an ally 
against the United States. At that time, the 
British agent, Alexander Forbes, from Tepic, 
Mexico, was in California, and in June 1838, 
when writing to his brother in England, said: 

"The British Government seems lately to 
have had some suspicion that California would 
be encroached upon, if not taken entire posses- 
sion of by the Russians who are settled so close 
upon its Northern frontier. * * * * The 
danger does not lie there. There is another 
restless and enterprising neighbor from whom 
they will most probably have to defend them- 
selves, or rather submit to; for although the 
frontiers of North America, are much more dis- 
tant than the Russians, yet to such men as the 
back-settlers, distance is of little moment, and 
they are already well acquainted with the route. 
The northern American tide of population must 
roll on southward, and overwhelm not only Cal- 
ifornia, but other more important states; but 
the invasion of California by American settlers 
is daily talked of; and if Santa Ana had pre- 
vailed against Texas, a portion of the inhabit- 
ants of that country, sufficient to overrun 
California, would now have been its masters. 

"There have been some thoughts of propos- 
ing to the Mexican Government that it should 
endeavor to cancel the English debt — which 
now exceeds fifty millions of dollars — by a trans- 
fer of California to the creditors." 

On February 1840, the New York Express 
said: 

"The Calikornias — The rumor has reached 
New Orleans from Mexico, of the cession to 
England, of the Californias." 

The United States Government, as expressed 



in the Monroe doctrine, had the right to defend 
its frontiers and the American continent against 
European encroachment, and by the contem- 
plated conveyance of California to Great Brit- 
ain by the Mexican Government, it was to have 
been an unfriendly act, hostile to American 
tradition and independence and opening up a 
continual antagonism that would have involved 
a quarter of a century of war and bloodshed 
upon this continent, in which not only Eng- 
land but the other European monarchical 
powers woidd have been combined as allies 
against us, the end of which no statesman then 
living could foresee or foretell the results. 

As Mexico had declaredthat the annexation of 
Texas by the United States would be a declar- 
ation of war, our Government watching the 
machinations of the British diplomats and her 
vessels of war, ordered Commodore Thomas 
Ap-Catesby Jones to the command of the Paci- 
fic Squadron, to protect American interests, 
and in case of news of hostilities between Mex- 
ico and the United States, to promptly sieze and 
occupy California and blockade the Mexican 
ports. With the frigate United States, (which 
captured the Macedonian, and the Cyane sloop 
of war captured with the Levant by the Ameri- 
can frigate Constitution in the last war with 
Great Britain), Commodore Jones in 1S42 sailed 
in obedience to orders to his destination. 

At that time the Hon. Mr. Pickett was U. S. 
minister to Peru, and on the arrival of Commo- 
dore Jones at Callao, he learned sufficient news 
and with the encouragement given him by our 
minister, sailed direct for Monterey, California, 
to take possession. 

On December 3d, 1825, there was born in 
Venezuela, South America, a gentleman whose 
father was a Virginian and in the diplomatic 
service of the United States Government, but 
whose mother was of Spanish blood and educa- 
tion, and that language became his mother ton- 
gue. In 1841, four years before the Naval Acad- 
emy was established bj^ our Government and at 
Annapolis, he was appointed one of a class of 
two hundred and fifty midshipmen, and their 
school of practical instruction was on the "roll- 
ing deep." The young man was appointed on 
the staff of Commodore Jones when but seven- 
teen years of age, on account of his knowledge 
of the Spanish language, as interpreter and 
translator, and came to the Pacific Coast with 
him. 

Immediately upon his arrival here at Mon- 
terey, Commodore Jones landed a small force 
on the 19th of October, 1642, hauled down the 
Mexican flag and hoisted the American flag on 
that same staff" upon which it has been raised 
to-day. Captain Silva, with the few soldiers of 
the Mexican army retired. That young mid- 
shipman and aide de-camp and Midshipman 
Larrentree were ordered to search the office of 
Collector of Customs in that old building yon- 
der; but there was nothing on entry of record 
of any late news having been received. 

In looking around the office this young mid- 
shipman stumbled upon a small bundle of pa- 
pers that had been thrown aside and never 
opened. Upon opening this package it was dis- 
covered that there was later n ews . Commodor e 



24 



Jones had made a mistake in being altogether 
too previous; and on the 28th of October, after 
being hoisted, this young midshipman hauled 
down the American flag, raised the Mexican 
flag, which was saluted with twenty-one guns. 
Commodore Jones immediately sent word over- 
land to Governor Micheltorena at Los Angeles, 
and the whole matter was to be referred to their 
respective governments. Commodore Jones 
sailed for San Pedro and went to Ivos Angeles, 
where he held a personal interview with Gover- 
nor Micheltorena, which concluded with festiv- 
ities and a grand ball and entertainment were 
given to the commodore and the other U. S. 
naval officers, when he took his departure and 
sailed around the Horn, homeward bound, with 
the mortifying reflection, "that he had put 
his foot in it," by trying to pick California 
fruit before it was ripe. He was relieved from 
command for four years and retired to his es- 
tate on the Potomac. 

An old and experienced officer and the only 
one in the Pacific Squadron who ever partici- 
pated in a naval battle was appointed to suc- 
ceed him. He had, as sailing master under 
Commodore Decatur, manoeuvred the frigate 
United States in her contest with the frigate 
Macedonian, the crack ship of the British navy, 
and captured her on the 25th of October, 1812, 
for which he with the rest received the thanks 
of Congress. In March, 1825, when in com- 
mand of the schooner Grampus he utterly de- 
stroyed the horde of pirates of the West Indies, 
and captured their leader Cofrecinas, who by 
court martial at Porto Rico was shot. Previous 
thereto, when first lieutenant to Commodore 
Biddle, when the latter was ashore at La Guay- 
ra in 1823, leaving him in command of the fri- 
gate Congress, an earthquake and hurricane 
occurred which drove from their moorings and 
entirely destroyed twenty-two merchant vessels 
and a Columbian man-of-war with all their 
crews, and only the U. S. frigate Congress was 
saved, by the skill and daring courage of this 
man, who received the just praise of Commo- 
dore Biddle for saving the ship. 

His subsequent career as commander of the 
sloop-of-war St. Louis at Callao, Peru, in giving 
asylum and protection aboard his ship to the 
vice-president of Peru, received the approbation 
and commendation of his government. Brave, 
experienced, calm and cool in judgment, and 
determined in action, unmoved by impetuous 
blood and rashness of ambitious spirits around 
him, this prudent man, faithful by a long naval 
service of forty-six years at that lime and when 
sixty-four years of age, is ordered to the com- 
mand of the Pacific Squadron. Such was the 
man selected by the United States Government 
to execute its orders, in the person of Commo- 
dore John Drake Sloat, whose honor was 
dearer to him than life, and whose patriotism 
and unswerving fidelity to his trust, entitles his 
memory to the eternal gratitude of the Nation 
and of everyone who breathes the air, drinks 
the water, who lives and has his being and en- 
joys this earthly paradise of our Golden State 
of California. 

He had a perplexing and most difficult task 
to perform. No reliable intelligence could reach 



him at Mazatlan with certainty ,excepting by the 
Isthmus of Panama requiring from two to 
three months' time, or nearly double the time 
around Cape Horn. The American Consul, 
John Parrott, and the Vice-Consul, James R. 
Bolton, at Mazatlan, were both married to Mex- 
ican women, who had either to act as double 
spies in matters of intelligence, prove traitors 
to their native landj, or disloyal I to their hus- 
bands as the representatives of the United 
States Government, while at the same time 
these consuls were merchants plying their voca- 
tion among a people suspicious of every move- 
ment and hostile in feeling to the extreme to- 
ward all Americans, which was encouraged by 
every Englishman resident or sojourning in 
Mexico. We had but two or three steam war 
vessels in our nav}' at that time, the steam 
frigates Princeton, Mississippi and another 
which had not reached the Gulf of Mexico, and 
the blockading of ports could be done but by 
sailing vessels alone. 

On the 24th of June, 1845, Commodore Sloat 
received the following instructions from the 
secretary of the navy, the Hon. George Ban- 
croft of Massachusetts: 

"It is the earnest desire of the President to 
pursue the policy of peace, and he is anxious 
that you and every part of your squadron 
should be assiduously careful to avoid any act 
which could be construed into any act of aggres- 
sion. 

"Should Mexico, however, be resolutely bent 
on hostilities, you will be mindful to protect 
the persons and interests of the citizens of the 
United States, near the station, and should you 
ascertain, beyond a doubt, that the Mexican 
Government has declared war against us, you 
will employ the force under your command to 
the best advantage. The Mexican ports on the 
Pacific are said to be open and defenseless. If 
you ascertain with certainty, that Mexico has 
declared war against the United States, you 
will at once posess youiself of the Port of San 
PVancisco, and blockade or occupy such other 
ports as your force permits." 

Thus it will be seen that only the absolute 
knowledge of war having been declared be- 
tween Mexico and the United States was to be 
the guide for his actions. His immediate pre- 
decessor had been temporarily disgraced and 
removed from command for acting too hastily, 
who had like orders to carry out. He had only 
rumors coming through hostile sources and the 
enemy's country for his guidance, while the 
only true course and guide for his action was 
to closely observe the movements of the British 
Admiral Seymour in his ship of the line of 
eighty guns, the Collingwood, which was con- 
stantly on the alert with its fast-sailing little 
tender, watching also to learn the first news of 
war, to sail away to California and take posses- 
sion of the country before Commodore Sloat. 
The British flagship was almost constantly on 
the move, while Sloat remained for seven long 
months at Mazatlan at anchor to catch the first 
sounds of war on the shores of the Gulf of Mex- 
ico, which had to be drained through Mexican 
ears and imparted by Mexican tongues, even to 
the American consulate household, itself mostly 




MAJOR EDWIN A. vSHERMAN, 
Of Oakland, Cal. 

Kx-Vice-President of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican War. 

The Originator of the movement and Chairman of tlie Committee ol Arrangements of the Associated Veterans 
of the Mexican War, for the Celebration of the Fortieth Anniversary, July 7th, 1S86, and tlie Fiftieth Anniversary, 
July 7th, 1896, of the Taking Possession of California and Raising the American Flag at Monterey, California, by 
Commodore John U. Sloat, of the U S. Navy, July 7th, 1S46 ; held at that place July sth, 1SS6, and July 7th, 1S96, 
respectively, under the auspices of the Associated" Veterans of the Mexican War, with the assistance ol the repre- 
sentatives of the War and Navy Departments of the U. S. Government, the Sloat Monument Association (of which 
he is the Founder and Secretary since July 5th, 1886), and with the assistance of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Free 
and Accepted Masons, which laid the cornerstone of the Sloat Monument at Monterey, on July 7th, 1S96. 

Past President hf the Masonic Veteran .Association of the United States, 1892-93-94-95. 

Ven. Grand Secretary of. the Ma.sonic Veteran Association of the Pacific Coast, 1878 to 1S97 inclusive. 

Commissioned Major by Gov. Lelaud Stanford, of California, July 23rd, 1862, during the War of the Rebellion. 




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25 



Mexican aud whose sympathies were naturally 
expected to be with their native land. It was 
a feverish aud malarious position, with a cactus 
mattrass and thorny pillow upon which Com- 
modore Sloat was expected to find repose by 
the Navy Department which placed him there. 
But he was faithful to his trust no matter how 
unpleasant, uncertain and unsatisfactory it 
might be. 

He was much older than his subordinates, 
and his war record had already been made 
thirty-four j^ears before in the war of 1S12 with 
Great Britain, with whom perhaps the initial 
step by him might be taken, which would in- 
augurate a conflict with two nations, at least, 
even if other European nations besides Great 
Britain might not also take a hand in American 
affairs. The responsibilities resting upon his 
shoulders were heavy and great, and he felt 
their pressure and knew their weight. 

He received rumors and reports from doubt- 
ful sources from time to time and had sent 
Lieut. ArchiJ)ald Gillespie in March, 1846, in 
the Cyane, sloop of war, to overtake Fremont, 
who, with his exploring party was on his way 
to Oregon. The sloop of war Portsmouth was 
already at anchor in the harbor of San Fran- 
cisco and ready to act. The sloop of war Levant 
was already on her way to Monterey, leaving 
him with the frigate Savannah and sloop of war 
Warren at Mazatlan. 

All the British vessels of war excepting the 
Collingwood and its little tender were distribu- 
ted along the coast of Mexico and California, 
but at sea. The situation was becoming seri- 
ous, but his orders were of that character that 
required absolute knowledge of war having 
been declared which could only be learned 
through hostile sources. He received no news 
by official despatches. 

Fleet Surgeon Dr. William Maxwell Wood 
was given permission bj' Commodore Sloat to 
return to the United States through Mexico, at 
the same time made him a secret bearer of 
despatches, and he traveled in the garb of a 
civilian, with his uniform at the bottom of his 
luggage. In his narrative and account of his 
trip he says : 

"The British squadron, headed by Admiral 
Seymour's ship, the Collingwood, followed our 
squadron in all its movements, and the British 
authorities had arranged a system of couriers 
from Tampico, on the Atlantic, to Mazatlan, on 
the Pacific, by which their squadron had the 
earliest and most reliable information as to im- 
portant events. Our government had taken no 
such precautions. Meeting Sir Thomas Thomp- 
son, the commander of the British frigate Tal- 
bot in the streets of Mazatlan, on the morning 
following a rumor of war between the United 
States and Mexico, I mentioned the rumor to 
him. He remarked there was no truth in it. 
and that I might be assured that when the war 
did occur, he would receive the first intelli- 
gence of it. An assurance unhappily too true. 

"The circumstances which enabled me to 
defeat these plans, and the consequences which 
might have resulted from their success, were 
gratifying. In this state of intense anxiety 
and great uncertainty, rumors were coastaqtly 



reaching us of the existence of war. It will be 
seen how difficult it was to estimate the value 
of these rumors when, in the case of war, the 
information must reach us through an enemy's 
country, and through the channels of our com- 
petitors, where there were so many sources of 
groundless reports, and so many interests in 
deceiving us, and the value of trustworthy in- 
formation may be estimated from the serious 
consequences of either hasty or delayed action. 
"At this juncture Commodore Sloat, wiaiiing 
to send dispatches to the Government, and 
hopintr that my journey through Mexico might 
be made tributary to our interests in case of 
war, gave me permission to return, and placed 
in my charge his dispatches. * * * with 
these dispatches and the information confided 
to me, on the ist of May, 1846, I left the port 
of San Bias, in company with Mr. Parrott, U. S. 
consul at Mazatlan, who was returning to the 
United States in greatly impaired health. 

"We had penetrated five days' journey on 
horseback into Mexico when, at the city of 
Guadalajara, we accidentally heard a company 
of Mexican officers in an adjoining room read- 
ing an account of the capture of Thornton's 
Dragoons by Mexican troops on the Rio Grande, 
and procured a Mexican newspaper with the 
account of the affair. * * * j therefore 
wrote Commodore Sloat a letter assuring him 
him of the occurrence of hostilities and sending 
him a translation of the account contained in 
the Mexican paper. Mr. Parrott, from his 
long-established commercial relations with 
Guadalajara, found an opportunity of express- 
ing my letter to the Commodore. 

" Immediately upon my arrival in the City 
of Mexico, I was startled and shocked by hear- 
ing the riewsboys crying through the streets : 
' Grand victory over the North Americans ! ' 
but from extraordinar)' circumstances, not nec- 
essary nor proper to be narrated, I received the 
same night, in my own room at the hotel, from 
a trusted friend of Tornel, the Minister of War, 
an exact account of the dismay in the IMexican 
cabinet, and learned of the overwhelming vic- 
tories of my life-long friend. General Taylor, 
and that the choice regiment of the City of 
Mexico had been annihilated. These discus- 
sions of the Mexican cabinet I received every 
night during my week's stay in the city. All 
this information I again sent to the command- 
ing officer of the Pacific squadron, signing my 
letter by an easily understood hierogliphic, and 
sending it through the Mexican mail under 
cover to the subject of a neutral power." 

Dr. Wood soon left the City of Mexico for 
Vera Cruz, running great risk of capture and 
as.sassination, but through the courtesy of the 
commander of a neutral man-of-war, was put 
on board the flagship of the Commodore com- 
manding the blockading squadron of the Gulf, 
who sent him to the Secretary of the Navy at 
Washington. 

Our own Government had not declared war, 
and it was not until the news of the battles of 
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma had been 
received at Washington that President Polk 
sent a special message to Congress announcing 
that " a state of war existed between Mexico 



26 



and the United States, and that two battles had 
been fought." 

The uncertainty of newspaper reports in 
Mexico, which were controlled by the Mexican 
Government, and rumors only, which Commo- 
dore Sloat had received from time to time, prior 
to the reception of the first news received by 
him from Dr. Wood at Guadalajara, and prop- 
erl}' waiting for more reliable information, at 
the same time watching the British Admiral's 
movements as being the best indication that a 
state of war existed if the CoUingwood sailed. 

The British Admiral was pursuing the same 
line of action in regard to reliable news of the 
declaration of war and of hostilities having 
actually commenced between the two countries, 
and possessing through British sources already 
mentioned by Dr. Wood, the best means of 
learning the actual truth. 

Mexico had no navy at that time, and Cali- 
fornia was safe to us, excepting from the British 
squadron under Admiral Seymour. The sloops 
of war Portsmouth, Cyane and the Levant of 
Commodore Sloat's squadron were already in 
California waters or at anchor in the ports of 
San Francisco and Monterey, carefully guard- 
ing the coveted prize to be taken. 

The manifestation of the hostile sentiments 
of the Mexican people, and with the informa- 
tion that he had already received, he had about 
determined to proceed, and on the 7th of June, 
1846, he took his gig and went on shore at 
Mazatlan to learn the very latest news. Leav- 
ing his boat's crew in charge of his aide-de- 
camp and signal officer, he paid a last visit to 
the American Consulate, learned by the last 
letter received from Dr. Wood, of the confirma- 
tion of the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de 
la Palma, and that Vera Cruz and otlier ports 
on the Gulf of Mexico were blockaded. This 
was the absoluie "information beyond a doubt," 
in accordance with his instructions that he had 
long been waiting for, in order to be certain 
that he was right, and not too hasty like his 
predecessor, Commodore Jones, in his action. 

Commodore Sloat returned to his boat, and 
gave orders to "shove off," while a grim smile 
overspread his countenance and he indicated to 
his aide-de-camp (who is with us to-day) that 
the hour had come for action. On reaching 
the deck of the Savannah, he retired to his 
cabin, but soon the entire ship's crew were 
humming like a hive of bees. It was quickly 
observed that the British tender, which had 
also just learned the news, was heaving up 
anchor, shaking out her sails and getting under 
way, sailed across the bow of the Savannah, 
and spreading all her sails, was steering south 
to convey information to the British Admiral 
Seymour who was with the British line of bat- 
tle ship CoUingwood at San Bias. 

After taking on more water, on June 8th, 
1846, Commodore Sloat, leaving the sloop of 
war Warren behind at Mazatlan to bring him 
later news and despatches, gave the final orders, 
and the frigate Savannah, the greyhound and 
fastest sailing vessel of war then in the world, 
was soon under a cloud of canvas and sailing 
at full speed for Monterey, where she arrived 
00 the 2nd of July in just twenty-four days, 



where she found the Cyane and the Levant 
sloops of war at anchor in the harbor, where 
Commodore Sloat, with calm and cool deliber- 
ation prepared his plans for taking possession 
and permanently occupying the whole of Cali- 
fornia. 

The prize was his and could not be snatched 
away from him ; and he knew that the British 
ship CoUingwood from her slow sailing qualities 
could not arrive under a week. The excite- 
ment among the few Americans on shore and 
the people who were uncertain as to what was 
being done, the ardent anxiety on the part of 
the officers and crews of the other American 
vessels of war for immediate action to be taken 
in which they might achieve personal distinc- 
tion and fame, had reached the highest ten.sion 
before his arrival, while his cool judgment in 
weighing the complicated state of affairs de- 
termined him to keep his own counsel and 
take due time in making his preparations. His 
proclamation in English and Spanish had to be 
prepared in triplicate for several places at 
Monterey, San Jose and San Francisco. 

The Bear Flag episode at Sonoma, with 
prisoners of war taken to Sutter's Fort and 
held there, with an independent government 
proclaimed under the " Republic of California" 
had thrown the native California population 
into a hostile frenzy, while the auxiliary move- 
ment of Fremont had still further prevented 
the pacification of the Spanish population to 
that degree that a military force would be re- 
quired in the interior to hold the country as 
well as that of the naval which could only 
occupy and hold the ports. Neither the 
clamors of the people on shore nor the mani- 
festation of impatience on the part of his sub- 
ordinate officers could force the stern and cool 
old Commodore to hastily act before he got 
ready. After having completed his plans and 
sent his final orders to Capt. Montgomery, of 
the sloop of war Portsmouth at San Francisco, 
all was ready on the night of the 6th of July 
for active operations to be commenced the next 
morning. 

He called no council of war of the officers of 
his squadron, though he had been approached 
by those who had arrived in the Cyane and 
Levant before, him who had become infected 
with the spirit of impatience of the few 
Americans on shore, and were desirous of 
immediate action by at once landing a force, 
raising the American flag, and let the proclam- 
ation be prepared and read afterwards. If the 
case had been of immediate emergency, this 
he no doubt would have done, but the act that 
he was to perform he deemed should be done 
in a dignified manner and worthy of the great 
American nation which he represented. He 
had received no fresh dispatches from his 
Government, and the only information that he 
had of war between Mexico and the United 
States was through Mexican sources and here- 
say only, and no wise official, and he afterwards 
acknowledged this fact to Dr. Wm. Maxwell 
Wood of the U. S. Navy, who, as has already 
been stated, picked up this information when 
he was at Guadalajara and the City of Mexico, 
passing through Mexico on his return home to 




ADMIRAL LESTER A. BEARDSLEE, U. S. N. 

[Commanding the Pacific Station.] 

This experienced and gallant officer, wearing the double stellar insignia ot his rank, is worthy oT his liiyh 
command, and of the generous plaudits of the American people which he so lavishly received at their hands at the 
Celebration held at Monterey, on July 7th, iKy6. He gave the fullest measure of his efforts and resources at his 
command to make it a perfect success, for which he receives the sincere jiratitute of the Veterans of the Mexican 
War and of the Sloat Monument Association, as well as of all who were there to enjoy that supreme patriotic satis- 
facliuu. Wuiils fail to ilu him justice — K. A S. 





REV. A. A. McALISTER, U. S. N. 

Chaplain Mare Island Navy Yard. First Chaplain of 
the Day at Monterey, Cal.. July 7th, 1896. Member of 
the Executive Committee of the Sloat Monument Asso- 
ciation, and one of its most ardent promoters. He is an 

honor to his prnfpccir.n nnrl tr> tVlP TCnvv. 



REV. W. E. EDMONDSON, U. S. N. 

Chaplain of Flagship Philadelphia. 

Second Chaplain of the Day at Monterey, Cal., July 
7th, 1S96. 

" None know him but to love him ; none name him 
but to praise." 




CAPT. C. S. COTTON. U. S. N. 
Commanding: U. S. Flagship Philadelphia. Admiral L. A. Bkardslee commanding the Pacific Station. 
A brave and skilful officer and a courteous and affable gentleman, worthy of the command of so noble a ship. 



27 



the United States and through the heart of the 
enemy's country, liable to be captured aud 
shot as a spy, for he carried his uniform in the 
bottom of his luggage. 

On the night of the 6th of July, 1846, Com- 
modore Sloat sent by a trusty courier (who 
is here with us to-day) the following dispatch 
to Capt. John B. iNIontgomery commanding the 
sloop of war Portsmouth at San Francisco : 

" I have determined to hoist the flag of the 
United States at this place, to-morrow, as I 
would prefer being sacrificed for doing too 
much than too little. If you consider you 
have sufficient force, or, if Fremont will join 
you, you will hoist the flag at Yerba Buena, or 
at any other proper place, and take possession 
of the fort, and that portion of the country." 

On the morning of the 7th of July a formal 
demand for the surrender of Monterey was 
presented to the Mexican Military Command- 
ant, who in reply said, that he was " not 
authorized to surrender the place and referred 
Commodore Sloat to Don Jose Castro, the Com- 
manding General of California." 

This was an evasion ; but the Mexican com- 
mandant with but a handful of soldiers re- 
tired. 

Says Commodore Sloat in his report : 

" Every arrangement having been made the 
da}' previous, the necessary force (about 250 
seamen and marines) was immediately em- 
barked in the boats of the squadron, and 
landed at 10 o'clock under cover of the guns of 
the ships, with great promptitude and good 
order, under the immediate command of Cap- 
tain Wm. Mervine assisted by Commander H. 
N. Page as second. The forces were immed- 
iately formed and marched to the Custom 
House, where my proclamation to the inhabi- 
tants of California was read ; the standard of 
the United Stales hoisted amid three hearty 
cheers by the troops and foreigners present, 
and a salute of 21 guns fired by all the ships. 
Immediately afterwards the proclamation both 
in English and Spanish was posted up about 
the town and two Justices of the Peace ap- 
pointed to preserve order and punish delin- 
(juencies, the Alcaldes declining to serve." 

Now, in relation to the Proclamation, the 
hoisting of the flag, etc. The young midship- 
man, who four years before under Commodore 
Jones had acted as his aide-de camp, when Com- 
modore Jones made his mistake as already 
stated, was at this time but 21 years of age, 
acting in the same capacity to CommodDre 
Sloat and was also his Signal Officer. He 
wrote the proclamation in both English and 
Spanish, making several copies of each, and 
one of them was read by Rodman M. Price, 
purser of the Cyane, and which you have 
heard read to-day. This young midshipman 
as Signal Officer accompanied by one of the 
seaman, a petty officer and quartermaster 
(whose name is unknown), the latter carrying 
the flag rolled up under his arm, took their 
stations at the corner of the Custom House 
immediately by the flag stafl", and the flag was 
bent on or fastened to the halliards ready for 
hoisting. At the close of the reading of the 
proclamation the Signal Officer directed the 



Quartermaster at once to hoist the flag and he 
did so, but only half-way, as the halliards or 
rope had got jammed in the truck or top. It 
was a critical moment, and the Signal Officer 
immediately snatched the halliards out of the 
hands of the Quartermaster and attempted to 
hoist it himself, but met with no better success. 
Seeing the difficulty. Midshipman Higgins 
rushed forward, threw off his coat and taking 
off his shoes, climbed the flagstaff, cleared the 
rope and sang out " Hoist away ! Toler ! " and 
the Sigual Officer did so, and made the rope 
fast to the cleat. 

It was the self same William P. Toler, the 
Midshipman and Signal Officer, the aide-de- 
camp of Commodore John Drake Sloat, who 
wrote the proclamation which has just been 
read, and who has again, just fiftv years after- 
ward, hoisted the American flag at the head of 
the same staff and on the identical spot to-daj-. 
All honor to William P. Toler ; and Capt. Wm. 
Swasey, the Consular Secretary of Thomas O. 
L,arkin, the faithful U. S. Consul, is here to-day 
as he was then to confirm the truth of this 
statement. 

Commodore Sloat says further in his report: 

" Deeming Purser D. Fauntleroy well quali- 
fied for such service, I directed him on the 8th 
to organize a company of 35 dragoons from 
volunteers from the ships and citizens on 
shore, to reconnoitre the country, keep open 
the communication between Monterey and San 
Francisco, and to prevent the people from 
being robbed, etc., and directed him to pur- 
chase the necessary horses and equipments aud 
to mount them. 

" Passed Midshipman Louis McLane having 
also volunteered for that service, I appointed 
him First Lieutenant of that company. On the 
17th Mr. Fauntleroy was directed to recon- 
noitre the country with his command as far as 
the Mission of San Juan, to take possession of 
that place, hoist the flag, and to recover ten 
brass guns, said to have been buried there by 
General Castro, when he retreated from that 
place. 

" On his arrival there, Mr. Fauntleroy found 
the place had been taken possession of an hour 
or two previous by Captain Fremont, with whom 
he returned to Monterey on the 19th. He was 
subsequently sent to garrison the place, dig up 
and mount the guns, and recover a large quan- 
tity of powder aud shot said to have been 
secreted there; all of which he accomplished 
before I sailed from Monterey, between which, 
the Pueblo of San Jose and San Francisco a 
perfectly free communication was maintained. 

"On the afternoon of the 15th of July the 
Congress arrived, and Commodore Stockton 
reported for duty. 

"On the i6th of July the British Admiral 
Sir George P\ Seymour, arrived in the Colling- 
wood, 80 guns. An officer was immediately 
sent to tender him the usual courtesies and the 
facilities of the port. He was subsequently 
furnished with a set of top-gallant masts and 
other spars for his ship, and sailed on the 23rd 
for the Sandwich Islands. 

" The visit of the Admiral was very service- 
able to our cause in California, as the inhabi- 



28 



tants fully believed he would take part with 
them, and that we would be obliged to abandon 
our conquest: but when they saw the friendlv 
intercourse subsisting between us, and found 
that he could not interfere in their behalf, they 
abandoned all hope of seeing the Mexican flag 
fly in California again." 

As an officer of the U. S. Navy justly re- 
marked, " Commodore Sloat knew what a slow 
sailing old tub the British flag-ship CoUingwood 
was; and beat her into Monterey just two weeks 
ahead, and had ample time to perfect his plans 
for landing and taking possession, not only of 
Monterey, but to organize a cavalry force to 
operate in the interior of the country and unite 
with Fremont." 

There is an episode of unwritten history fur- 
nished by Mr. William P. Toler, the aide-de- 
camp of Commodore Sloat who is with us to- 
day, and which is here given for the first time. 

Immediately after the arrival of the British 
flagship CoUingwood, Commodore Sloat with 
his aide-de-camp paid the customary official 
visit to Admiral Seymour on board of that ship. 
Midshipman Toler remained in the Commo- 
dore's gig with the coxswain and boat's crew. 
After a little, one of the British officers, who 
had met Toler before, and on most friendly 
terms, invited him to come up on board the 
ship, and he did so, where he was agreeably 
entertained. While sitting by the mess-table 
and chatting, a group of British officers near by 
were indulging in jolly conversation with con- 
siderable laughter, which was rather boister- 
ous and which attracted Toler's attention, and 
he asked his British friend what was the 
cause of it, who replied, confidentially, that "it 
•was a great joke at the Admiral's expense." 
" What is the joke ? " asked Toler. His British 
friend replied as follows : 

"You see, that when we were near Point 
Pinos, the Admiral came on deck and mani- 
fested a great deal of anxiety, and gave strict 
orders to the quartermaster, who carried the 
spy-glass, to keep a sharp look out when round- 
ing the Point. As the CoUingwood made the 
turn and was sailing in, the Admiral, in sharp 
tones, said : ' Quartermaster, do you see a flag 
flying on shore? ' The latter replied, ' Yes, sir; 
but I cannot make it out, sir.' The Admiral 
becoming more excited, kept repeating the 
question sharply, and received the same answer. 
At last he said again : ' Quartermaster, do you 
see a flag on shore now ?' The Quartermaster, 
shading his eyes and stooping a little and get- 
ting a view under the fog, replied, 'Yes, sir; I 
see a flag very clearly now, sir.' ' What flag is 
it?' asked the Admiral. The Quartermaster 
replied, * It is the American flag , sir.' Upon 
which the British Admiral slapped his thigh, 
stamped his foot and passionately exclaimed in 
disappointment, ' Then, by God, tarn too late!' " 

This was the "joke" over which the group 
of British officers were laughing and witnessing 
the anger and disappointment exhibited by Ad- 
miral Seymour of the British squadron at find- 
ing himself outsailed by over two weeks and 
Commodore Sloat already in possession of Cali- 
fornia, while the payment of the English debt 
by Mexico was put further off" than ever, and 



California was forever secured to the American 
Union by the skilful and brave little old Com- 
modore John Drake Sloat. 

Another incident related by Commodore 
Sloat to his familj', confirmed by his son War- 
rington Sloat, his private secretary at the time, 
and which the Commodore also stated to the 
Hon. Wm. S. Green, U. S. Surveyor-General, 
who is one of our honorable vice-presidents to- 
day, when the Commodore was a guest at his 
• house in 1852, about the time that he located 
and purchased for the U. S. Government Mare 
Island from General Vallejo for a navy yard. 
This is not legend or story of fiction as it has 
been falsely termed by lying so-called histori- 
ans, but Commodore Sloat's own statements. 

When the British line of battle ship CoUing- 
wood arrived, there were the two frigates Sa- 
vannah and Congress and the two sloops of 
war Cyane and the Levant of Commodore 
Sloat's squadron at anchor, with a battery of 
42 pounders on shore being constructed. The 
CoUingwood anchored within pistol-shot of the 
Savannah. That ship with the other vessels 
was ready for action; the decks were cleared, 
anchors hove short, the matches were lighted 
and the gunners stood by loaded cannon; the 
yards were full of men ready to drop the sails 
on the instant of a signal. " In fact," said 
Commodore Sloat, "we did everything but 
show our teeth — ^run the guns out of the port- 
holes." The practical eye of the Admiral could 
not but observe the preparations for immediate 
action. 

" You seem to be about to give your men 
some practice in the art of gunnery," said the 
Admiral, as he shook hands with the Commo- 
dore. Sloat pointed to the flag on shore and 
remarked that he " did not know but it would 
take some practice to keep it there." 

" Will you answer me candidly one ques- 
tion ? " asked the Admiral. " Did you get any 
dispatches through Mexico just before you left 
Mazatlan ? " 

"I did not," was the prompt answer from 
Sloat. 

After a few moment's study, the Admiral 
said : "You did right, perhaps, and your gov- 
ernment will sustain you as the case now stands; 
but don't you know. Commodore, that there 
is not an officer in the British Navy who would 
have dared to take the responsibility you have 
done? You doubtless had orders to take Mon- 
terey in case of war; but when you left Mazat- 
lan there were only a few leading Mexicans and 
myself who knew of the existence of hostilities. 
It is all over now," he continued; "but tell me, 
Commodore, since you are not a man to shrink 
from responsibility, what would you have done 
had there been when you reached here, the 
flag of another nationality floating where yours 
now floats, and that flag guarded by a ship of 
the line?" 

"I would," said Commodore Sloat, "have 
fired at least one shot at it, and perhaps have 
gone to the bottom, and left my government to 
settle the matter as it thought best." 

When John Bull and his calves break down 
the fences and jump into a neighbor's pasture 
and fields without warning, only Uncle Sam's 



29 



Vagueros and " Cow Boys " of America or the 
Dutch Boers of Africa are equal to the task of 
driving them out again and rebuilding the 
fences. 

Said Commodore Sloat in his letter of March 
20, 1855, written from New York, to Fleet Sur- 
geon William Maxwell Wood, " I am most 
happy to acknowledge the very important serv- 
ices }'ou rendered the government and the 
squadron in the Pacific under my command at 
the breaking out of the Mexican War. The in- 
formation you furnished me at Mazatlau from 
Guadalajara (at the risk of your life) was the 
only reliable information I received of that 
event, and which induced nie to proceed imme- 
diately to California, and upon my own respon- 
sibility to take possession of that country. I 
have alwajs considered the performance of 
your journey through Mexico at the time as an 
extraordinary feat, requiring great presence of 
mind and address. How you escaped from the 
heart of an enemy's country and such a people 
has always been a wonder to me, and has been 
.so characterized on all occasions." 

The Chairman of the Naval Committee of the 
Senate commented on Fleet Surgeon Wood's 
valuable services as follows: 

" Ever}' intelligent mind must at once appre- 
ciate the importance of the service which you 
have rendered the country, and your personal 
hazard in traveling through the heart of the 
enemy's country, communicating with your 
military superior, and furnishing him with the 
sole and otherwise unattainable information 
upon which he based the acquisition of Califor- 
nia. The importance of this acquisition, can be 
best estimated by asking ourselves ' What 
would have been our National position in the 
Pacific and upon our Oregon frontier, had 
Great Britain, instead of ourselves, acquired 
possession of it?' I have always contended that 
its acquisition constitutes one of the Navy's 
strongest claims upon the gratitude of the Na- 
tion, and this chapter in its history, furnished 
by your own service, but strengthens this con- 
viction." 

The final and last communication received 
by Commodore Sloat from Surgeon Wood 
through Guadalajara was on the 7th of June, 
1846, as he says in his report, as being the only 
positive information received by him of actual 
hostilities having broken out between Mexico 
and the United States, though uncertain rumors 
and unsatisfactory information had reached 
Mazatlan before, and so as he says in his official 
report: 

"These hostilities, I considered, would jus- 
tify my commencing offensive operations on 
the west coast of California, to carry out the 
orders of the Department of the 24th of June, 
1845. Leaving the Warren at Mazatlan to 
bring me any dispatches or important informa- 
tion that might reach there, I arrived at Mon- 
terey on the 2nd of July, where I found the 
Cyane and the Levant, and learned that the 
Portsmouth was at San F'rancisco, to which 
places they had been previously ordered to 
await further instructions. 

' At 7 A. M. of the 9th, Commander Mont- 
gomery hoisted the flag at San Francisco, read 



and posted my proclamation and took posses- 
sion of that part of the country in the name of 
the United States. 

" F'or a detailed account of the proceedings 
at San Francisco, etc., I refer you to the en- 
closed copies of my orders to Commander 
Montgomery and his report to me (Nos. i to 10). 

"On the 23rd, my health being such as to 
prevent my attending to so much and such 
laborious duties, I directed Commodore Stock- 
ton, to assume the command of the forces and 
operations on shore; and, on the 29tli, having 
determined to return to the United States via 
Panama, I hoisted my broad pennant on board 
the Levant and sailed for Mazatlan and Pana- 
ma, leaving the remainder of the squadron un- 
der his command, believing that no further op- 
position would be made to our taking posses- 
sion of the whole of the Califoruias, (as General 
Castro had less than one hundred men), and 
that I could render much more important serv- 
ice by returning to the United States with the 
least possible delaj', to explain to the Govern- 
ment the situation and wants of that country, 
than I could by remaining in command in my 
infirm state of health. 

" At the time of ray leaving Monterey, the 
United States were in quiet possession of all 
" Alta California" north of Santa Barbara. 

" The Cyane sailed for San Diego on the 26th 
to carry down Captain Fremont, with about 
one hundred and fifty riflemen (Americans) to 
take possession there and to cut off General 
Castro's retreat to Lower California or Mexico. 

" The Congress was to sail on the 30th for 
San Pedro to take possession there. That place 
is 27 miles from the City of Angels, where 
General Castro and Governor Pico then were, 
and I have every reason to believe (knowing 
their anxiety to do so) that immediately on her 
arrival they would surrender, which would put 
an end to all opposition to the United States 
in the Californias. 

" In closing this report, I should do injustice 
to my own feelings and to the officers, seamen, 
and marines of the squadron I had the honor 
to command, if I neglected the opportunity to 
state that no men could display more zeal, 
activity and determined desire to do honor to 
their country and the service than they; conse- 
quently, it would be invidious to particularize 
any individuals when all were equally zealous 
to do their duly in their respective stations. 

" Hoping the course I have pursued will meet 
the approbation of the Department, I have the 
honor to be 

Most respectfully, your obedient servant, etc., 
JOHN D. SLOAT, Commodore. 
Hon. George Bancroft, Secretary of the 
Navy, Washington, D. C. 

His report was written on board the Levant 
while at sea, on July 31, on his return home. 
On his arrival at Panama he had to cross the 
Isthmus on mule-back and down the Chagres 
river in a bungelow in the most sickly period 
and dangerous portion of the year, and await an 
opportunity at Chagres to embark on shipboard 
where he might sail for the nearest foreign port, 
from whence he coulil obtain passage direct to 



30 



the United States, and sending his report to the 
Secretary of the Navy from New York, he fol- 
lowed it himself in a few days, arriving at 
Washington early in November, 1846. 

The report of the Secretary of the Navy, dated 
December 5th, 1846, in briefly reciting what 
Commodore Sloat had done, in obedience to 
his instructions, speaking of his actions, says: 

"The oflBcer who was thus instructed, ob- 
served the line of conduct prescribed to him 
with such intelligence and fidelity, that no com- 
plaint has ever been made of any unauthorized 
aggression on his part." "On the 29th of July, 
Commodore Sloat found his infirm health so 
enfeebled by his arduous duties that he deter- 
mined to avail himself of a permission which had 
been given him, in his discretion, to assign his 
command to Commodore Stockton, and sailed 
for Panama on his return home. After en- 
countering much peril and hardship, this gal- 
lant and meritorious officer arrived at the Seat 
of Government early in November last." * * 

"In the novel situation in which both the 
commanders of our naval forces have been 
placed, without instructions to regulate them in 
the detail of their conduct, they have adopted 
measures to preserve social order and maintain 
our authority, and to withhold from the enemy 
any advantages from the conquered territory, 
which are believed to be warranted by the laws 
of war." 

"The conduct of both commanders has been 
marked by discretion, a spirit of conciliation, 
and a sacred respect for private rights, while 
the military movements have been ably con- 
ceived and brilliantly executed." * * * 

This report of the Secretary of the Navy, com- 
mencing by reciting the original orders given to 
Commodore Sloat on June 24, 1845, and ending 
with the highest praise and commendation that 
could possibly be given to a brave and faithful 
officer, cancelled all other orders and communi- 
cations from the naval department written 
under misapprehensions and in ignorance of 
the true condition of affairs, conveying implied 
censure, and which were never received by 
Commodore Sloat, and nothing of the kind after 
the most diligent search by the proper officer 
appointed is to be found in the achives of the 
Navy Department at Washington. 

The orders were given, obeyed both in the 
spirit and in the letter, and the glorious achieve- 
ment of the conquest of California, and snatch- 
ing the prize from the claws of the British Lion 
in so skilful and complete a manner by Com- 
modore Sloat, entitles his memory to the eter- 
nal admiration and gratitude not of Californians 
alone but of the whole of the American nation. 
Yet here in this golden laud and on the bur- 
nished golden shield of California, there is a 
foul stain and splotch of falsehood and slander, 
which should be wiped off, and the brilliancy of 
our state escutcheon completely restored. Vile 
reptiles have crawled over it and left their trails 
of black slime upon its face, which only the 
sharp acid of public indignation and the fires of 
scorn and contempt can remove. The H. H. 
Bancroft so-called history, is but a series of 
bound volumes of lies, detraction, libel and 
slander of some of the most gallant, daring and 



honorable men, patriots, soldiers and statesmen 
of our country that this age has produced. 
Sloat, Stockton, Fremont, Grant and others 
have been most foully lied about, and to borrow 
the prestige of the name and to creep into the 
shadow of the fame of George Bancroft the his- 
torian of the nation, the name of Bancroft is 
given to a mass of deliberate lying and slander 
which has caused the Society of California 
Pioneers to cleanse its shelves of the pollution 
and stain, to expurgate its roll of honor and bar 
its doors to the entrance of the Chief and his 
aids of this production which has come up out 
of the black press-room and bindery of the 
"Father of Lies." 

More than eighteen years this hero of half a 
century ago had lain in his grave, and and there 
were none but the veterans of the Mexican War 
to stand forth in his defense, in which they 
have defended the honor of their dead comrade , 
Commodore John Drake Sloat. 

Says the Hon. C. E. S. Wood, the son of 
Fleet Surgeon Wm. Maxwell Wood, in his let- 
ter to me, written at Portland, Oregon, June 
25, 1896: 

"You are entirely and indisputably-correct in 
your defense of Sloat, and it is an outrage that 
any defense should be needed." 

An eternal debt of gratitude is especially due 
to our honorable Senator in Congress, Geo. C. 
Perkins, whose unremitting labors and atten- 
tion have been devoted in the helping to rescue 
the honored fame of Commodore Sloat from 
the mass of obloquy, misrepresentation and 
falsehood which H. H. Bancroft and his coad- 
jutors had heaped upon it, and to Senator Per- 
kins especially are the people of California in- 
debted for his efforts in the passage of the bill 
thus far in the appropriating funds for his mon- 
ument. 

On this, the fiftieth anniversary of his last 
and most glorious achievement, the veterans of 
the Mexican War have the inexpressible joy of 
witnessing the triumphant vindication of his 
good name,the celebration by the grateful people 
of this "Golden State" of the crowning act of his 
fame, which secured and added an empire to 
the domain of the Republic, while the stars of 
three States formed out of the original territory 
of California have been added to the Constella- 
tion of the American Union and where they 
will forever remain. 

Then let the perfect ashlars from all the 
Counties of California be here laid in imperish- 
able granite in the square elevated base upon 
which the superstructure is to be reared, with 
California the chief corner stone. Upon this 
long neglected spot of half a century, let the 
Government of the people of these United 
States, rear a shaft upon whose tablets in letters 
of gold the history of his renown, and the med- 
allion and story of the daring, faithful and pat- 
riotic Fleet Surgeon William Maxwell Wood, 
while high up on the lofty pedestal of fame, 
the statue of Commodore John Drake Sloat 
in bronze, pointing to yonder staff where our 
glorious ensign was raised by his command 
over a land redeemed, where the wild beasts no 
longer roam, where civilization prevails, and 



/ 




BRIGADIER GENHRAI, JAMES W. EORvSYTH, U. vS. A., 
Commanding thu Dei'ARTMKNT oi- Caliioknia. — HiiAnnuAKTiiKs at San Francisco. 

one of the most meritorious officers in the U. S. Army. With a splendid record in the field for services 
rendered in critical times of danger, the star upon his shoulder glitters upon a cuirass of honor worn over the 
brave heart beneath it. 

Always affable and courteous, and whenever it has been possible to grant the reijuest of the Associated 
\eterans of the Me.vican War or of the rest of the people of the State, he has invariably complied with their 
reiiiiest, for which all feel grateful. We trust that in time the constellations will gather upou his shoulders, 
though not at the rate of si.>ctecn to one.— K. A. S. 




COL. O. D. GREENE, U. S. A. 

Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of California, Brigadier-Geueral James W. Kor.-yth command- 
ing. One of the Vice Presidents of the day at the celebration at Monterey July 7th, iSg6. A splendid officer with 
an enviable record, a most courteous and affable gentleman, who graciously rendered every service in his 
position to make the celebration a success both at Monterey and at San Francisco on July gth, iSg6, for which he 
receives our sincere thanks. — E. A. S. 





MAJOR TULLY McCREA, U. vS. A. 
Who commanded the Batteries of V. rt. Artillery at 
the celebration of the sotli Anniversary of the Raising 
of the American flag at Monterey July 7, 1S96, and 
aided so much to make it a success, and to virhom the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican War are greatly 
indebted. 



CAPT. JOHN H. MACOMBER, U. S. A. 
chaplain Angel Island. 

Chaplain to represent the U. S. Army at the celebr?,. 
tion at Monterey July 7, 1S96. 
Member of the >iloat Monument Association. 



31 



where the blessings of civil autl religious liberty 
are enjoyed. 

Comrade veterans of the Mexican War, our 
ranks are fast thinning out and our eyes which 
in our joung manhood days shone with the 
fierce light of battle, are rapidly being changed 
into the moss agates of old age, and ere long 
the last of us will be mustered out. In the 
evening twilight of our lives, as we remem- 
ber the past and look to the near future, when 
there will come a realization of our hopes in the 
completion of the monument here begun, and 
the statue of our honored Comrade Commodore 
Sloat shall be unveiled, wc can then turn with 
joyful gaze to the golden setting sun, while he 
paints the sea, the valleys and the mountains 
in glorious hues and spreads his gorgeous man- 
tle over the skies begemmed with the jewels of 
the heavens, then we can exclaim like one of 
old, ' Now, let thy servants depart in peace, for 
our eyes have beheld thy salvation,' and we 
will follow our patriotic, brave and gallant 
Commanders over that last pontoon bridge, and 
go into camp on that other "Golden Shore." 

The peroration of Major Sherman's address 
was greeted with the most hearty applause. 

The girls of the Living Flag then sang with 
splendid effect "The Star Spangled Banner." 

The President of the Day then introduced 
Mrs. Eliza A. Pittsinger, who in an eloquent 
manner, delivered the lollowing original poem 
which elicited the heartiest applause : 

CALIFORNIA'S GOLDEN JUBILEE. 

BY ELIZA A. PITTSINGER. 

[Delivered at the Celebration of the Fiftieth Auiiiversary 
of the Taking Possession of California aud Raising 
of the American Flag by Commodore John Drake 
Sloat of the U. S. Navy on July ylh, 1S46, delivered 
by her on July 7th, 1896]. 

Why do we meet, my friends, to-day ? 
What records have led us on the way ? 
What scenes are past, what themes attend, 
And with historic grandeur blend ? 
A single word shall fan the fire, 
And each advancing thought inspire. 

That word is Progress; and its course 
Cannot be stayed by creed or force — 
Its germs were planted in the Past, 
Its blossoms crown the ages vast; 
And as the mighty years speed on 
The victories of life are won — 
To perfect good its path extends, 
And like a star its light attends 
The fall of Empires, and the wane 
Of powers that shall not live again. 

And as we meet this summer morn 
How many a loyal thought is born ! 
How many a fancy takes its flight 
O'er valley, plain and rocky height; 
We lift the veil, we follow fast 
The scenes aud records of the past — 
O, how the hazy solitude 
Once whispered to those races crude 
Long ere the padre's cross was seen 
To cast its .shadow 'mid the sheen ! 



The years sped on ! The Golden Clime 
Awaited something more sublime 
And lasting than the dwindling seed 
Of rustic rite or ancient creed. 

O, Eden Land, thou wert so fair. 
In thy young life so sweet and rare, 
That rival nations as a prize, 
Once sought thee for a paradise; 
And 'mid contention, strife and moil, 
They bore their banners to thy soil ! 

The prize was here, and regal Spain 
Strove hard, and did that prize obtain — 
And yet her power was weak to hold 
This clime of sunshine, bloom and gold; 
Not even Cortez' mighty arm 
Possessed the skill or held the charm. 

'Twas eighteen hundred twenty five 

When Mexico threw off her chains; 

The love of conquest was alive. 

And flowed through her ambitious veins, 

Whereby she bent her anxious eyes 

Upon this charmed Paradise; 

And Echuadra sped his way 

Up through the seas of mist that play 

With the hills and vales of Monterey. 

And thus through all the ebb and flow 
Of rival nations in the strife. 
The dusty, sun-crowned Mexico, 
With new impulsion, hope and life. 
Unfurled her flag, and for a time 
Obtained possession of the clime. 

It could not last, 'twas doomed to be 
Like some poor wreck upon the sea — 
The prize was here; and Freedom planned 
The final conquest of her land — 
She saw the winding path that led 
Our hero to the front and head, 
As with a small and valiant band 
He gained possession of the land. 

And thus our gallant Sloat became 
A star amid the Sons of Fame — 
True as the magnet to the steel, 
Equipped and armed with loyal zeal, 
As with an energy sublime. 
He stormed the Castle of his Time, 
Unfurled our flag, and solved the plan 
That Liberty designs for man. 

To our illustrious Sloat we yield 
The Victor's crown, the Hero's shield — 
He came and won; and by his toil 
His footprints shine upon our soil. 

His bark was borne across the sea 
That California might be free; 
Our flag went up in time of need. 
His arm was strong to sow the seed, 
Whose blossoms crown the shining way 
To this our Semi-Centennial Day. 

Fair Stars and Stripes! beloved and bright! 
Ye came with golden floods of light; 
Beneath your f^olds new life and thought 
Sped forth as if by magic wrought! 



32 



New inspiration like a flame 

Of heavenly glory then became 

A beacon-star, whose charms unfurled 

I/ike splendors of a new-born world! 

O, land engirt with sea and sun, 
vSublime the fame that thou hast won ! 
Thy cities in their grandeur rise, 
Their spires are pointing to the skies, 
Thy fruit the wonder of the world, 
And in thy sunlight is impearled 
A crystal radiance that glows, 
And into waves of thought it flows ! 

That radiance charms my soul to-day, 
'Tis like the welcome beams of May; 
Upon the toil-worn Veterans 
Of Mexico its light expands, 
And how it blesses, warms and cheers, 
The pathway of our Pioneers ! 
Beneath it how our blossoms gleam ! 
Beneath it what a mighty stream 
Of speech and music now display 
The zeal and glory of the day ! 

O, Freemen, wave your banners grand 
In all their spendor through the land ! 
And down the valleys as we sing 
Let golden hallelujahs ring; 
For fifty years ago to-day 
The seed was sown in Monterey ! 
The harvest time begins to dawn; 
We're marching on, we're marching on. 

O, 'tis the Semi-Centennial Year ! 
Our bells are ringing loud and clear ! 
The Star of Freedom rises high, 
A Rainbow spans the Western sky ! 
Rejoice, my people, great and free, 
It is the Year of Jubilee ! 

Rejoice, rejoice, the day is ours ! 

The years have brought their heavenly powers! 

And we have only to behold, 

To claim the prize and win the gold ! 

The vines are springing at our feet, 

We've but to pluck the fruit and eat ! 

'Tis here, 'tis here, the Promised Land; 
'Tis here in Freedom's cause we stand; 
'Tis here we sing our songs of praise 
To gladden these Centennial days — 
O, Monterey, upon thy sand 
Are footprints wonderful and grand ! 

The Eagle from her mountain height 
Sped downward to these valleys bright; 
And through the weary march of Time 
Her burning glance was on the clime — 
She was a watcher on the wall. 
She saw the stormy rise and fall 
Of noisy faction, selfish clan. 
As through the warring years they ran. 

At last with her deep piercing eyes, 

She saw the Star of Freedom rise; 

Afar was heard a Golden Song, 

And as its numbers rolled along 

They thrilled her with their magic power — • 

And then she knew the expectant hour 



Had come when she should yield her post 
To God's true Guardians of the Coast. 

And thus it was, for this we meet 
To make our Liberties complete; 
For this we sing our songs of praise, 
For this the land is all ablaze. 
As on this Semi-Centennial Day 
We wave our flags in Monterey. 

Fair Monterey, in future time 
Thy name shall ring in classic rhyme; 
'Tis here the pilgrim shall be led, 
'Tis here his fancy shall be fed, 
O, here upon this charmed ground 
The sacred relics shall be found; 
And in this Mecca of the West, 
At last his weary feet shall rest. 

Mrs. Blake Alverson then sang "Viva La 
America" as only herself can sing it with its 
full spirit of patriotic fire and sweetness of song, 
for which she was roundly applauded as at its 
close she waved the American flag, creating the 
greatest enthusiasm, and sang the following as 
an encore : 

" OLD GLORY." 



Words by Thomas J. Duggan. 
Music by Homer N. Bartlette. 

Old Glory, Flag of Liberty, 

In triumph wave o'er laud and sea, 

The pride of millions yet to be, 

'Neath Freedom's glorious sway. 
We gaze upon each starry fold, 
In beauty to the skies unrolled 
And link with thee in pride untold. 

Our land America. — Chorus. 

Old Glory, founded by our sires. 
Amid the flame of battle fires. 
Thy gleam the heart of all inspires 

With rapture day by day. 
The flag of the new world art thou. 
To tyranny thou ne'er shalt bow, 
F'orever wave above the brow, 

Of free America. — Chorus. 

Old Glory 1 for thy honored past 
Our hearts revere thee till the last ; 
Our dearest hopes are on thee cast, 

To never fade away. 
Triumphant, noble, brave and free. 
Still onward shall thy progress be. 
For honor, peace and liberty 

And for America. 

Chorus. 

Unfurl thj' grandeur to the stars, 
Dear flag of many battle scars, 

Renowned in hallowed story. 
All Hail ! to thee, O emblem grand 
The guardian of our native land. 

Old Glory. 

The Hon. H. C. Gesford, Grand President of 
the Native Sons, was then introduced and made 
a telling and eloquent speech for which he was 
heartily cheered. 




MAJOR SIDNEY J. U)OP, 
Of Alameda, Cal. 
President of tlie As'tociated Veterans of the Mexican War (for the tliird term). 
I'resident of the Board of Trustees of the Veteran's Horn; at Vountville, Cal. 
He belonged to Co. G, ist U. S. Artillery, and served his coimtrs- welt in Mexico. 
He is a Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 



iki^A^'IJT^^: 





COL. JOSEPH SrEWART, U. S. A. (Relired.) 
Residence, Berkeley, Cal. 

Past President and now Vice-President of the Asso- 
ciated Veterans of the Mexican War. 

Vice-President of the Sloat Monument Association. 

With a long, faithful and arduous service in both peace 
and war. He has made a most honorable record, to be 
proud of. 



COIMRADE CHARIvES LANGE, 
()K San Francisco. Cal. 
Vice-President of the Associated Veterans of the Mex- 
ican War. 
Also, a Member of the Sloat Monument Association. 
Retired as Ordnance Sergeant of the r. S. Army, after 
nearly a lifetime of faithful service both in the field as 
well as garrison. 





CAl'T. WM. L. DUNCAN, 

Of San Francisco, Cal. 

Past President and Secretary of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War. 

Vice-President of the Sloat Monument Association of 
Calitornia. 

He was a Lieutenant and acting Captain of Co. R in 
Col. Edward Baker's Regiment of 4th Illinois Volun- 
teers, and rendered good service especially in the 
battles in fiont of the City of Mexico. 



COMRADE A. C. McDONALD, 

Of S.\n Francisco, Cal. 

Treasurer of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War. He was Sergeant of Company B of the First 
Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers under Col. 
I''rancis Wynkoop, and was in some of the severest 
fighting in Mexico, from Vera Cruz to the City of 
Rlexico. 

A true and tried soldier, and of inflexible fidelity and 
inlegrlty as his (rKjuent election as Treasurer shows. 

A member of the Sloat Monument Association. 





COL. A. ANDREWS, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 
Past President of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War. He served as Captain of Company A, 
Second Regiment of Ohio Voluteers, and did good serv- 
ice in the battles in front of the City of Mexico. 

Colonel for many years on the staflTs of the Governors 
of California, and now on the staff of Gov. James Budd. 



COL. JOHN w. Mckenzie, 

Of Ocean View, San Francisco, Cal. 

Past Vice-President of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War. 

He was First Sergeant of Duncan's Battery, Co. A, 
Second Regiment of U. S. Artillery, and fired the first 
gun at the battle of Palo and one of the last at the City 
of Mexico. He was the Colonel of a Regiment of the 
National Guard of California and instructor during the 
late war. 



33 



The Hon. Niles Searles, Vice-President of the 
Society of California Pioneers, made a short and 
humorous address which greatly delighted 
everybody present. 

The vast audience then united in singing the 
National Hymn, "America," and the Rev. O. 



E. Edmondson, Chaplain of the U. S. Flagship 
Philadelphia, pronounced an eloquent and fer- 
vent benediction, and the Great Celebration of 
the Fiftieth Anniversary of the taking posses- 
sion of California and raising the American flag 
at Monterey by Commodore Sloat was ended 
and his honored fame gloriously vindicated. 



Part 3. 



Celebration of the Tiftietb flnniversary of the Raising of tbe American flag 

by Capt. % B, montgomery of the U. $. Sloop of mr Portsmoutb, 

at Verba Buena, now $an Trancisco, California, on the Plaza 

and tbe Presidio, on 3uly 9tb, i$46, by Orders from 

Commodore 3obn DraKe Sloat, U. $. n. 

CckDMtcd Cbursaay, July 9tb, i$96. 




AJOR EDWIN A. SHERMAN, the 
Chairmau of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, present- 
ed to the rest of the Committee the subject of also 
having a celebration of the Fiftieth Anniver- 
sary of the raising of the American Flag at San 
Francisco as well as at Monterey. Gen, For- 
syth, at his solicitation, having consented and 
given orders for the firing of salutes at the Pre- 
sidio and the Forts in the harbor of San Fran- 
cisco, also on July 9th, 1896. That as the Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War would have all that 
they could do with the celebration at Monterey 
and the two events coming so near together 
that the celebration at San Francisco, which 
ought to he held, and the honors and labors 
should be shared with others. That the Ex- 
empt Fire Company having their engine-house 
of the old Monumental Engine Company at 
Brenham Place, immediately near the old flag- 
staff on the Plaza, now called Portsmouth 
Square, where they had kept the American 
flag flying for nearly half a century, should be 
invited to take charge and act as a Committee 
of Arrangements for the Celebration of the 
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Raising of the 
American Flag in San Francisco, on July 9th, 
1896. To this Col. Joseph Stewart and Com- 
rade Charles Lange, the other members of the 
committee, gave their hearty consent. 

Accordingly the invitation was sent to the 
President, George T. Bolien, of the Exempt 
F'^ire Company, to which a most hearty response 
and acceptance was received, and these old 
veteran firemen went to work with a will and 
determination characteristic of their old-time 
hearty liberality, and prepared a celebration 
worthy of the occasion, of themselves, and of 
the patriotic citizens of San Francisco, while 
they made the veterans of the Mexican War 
their special guests, and extended to them the 
most generous hospitality, which was fully en- 
joyed and gratefully appreciated. 

George T. Bohen, A. J. Jessup, J. J. Guilfoyle, 
Godfrey Fisher, Joseph Figel, James O'Donnell 
and John J. Mundwyler were the Committee of 
Arrangements. 

The following account of this celebration is 
taken from the reports of the affair as published 
in tUe dail^ newspapers of San Francisco : 



Fifty years of brilliant history were signaled 
at high noon yesterday, when the Stars and 
Stripes were spread from the lofty mast in the 
Plaza. The falling time-ball on Telegraph Hill 
marked the arrival of the summer sun at its 
meridian, a bugle blast gave the signal, the big 
bell in the home of the red-shirted Exempts 
pealed a note of joy, and in a trice the banner 
of freedom was unfurled over the same memor- 
able spot where first it was raised in San Fran- 
cisco by the bluejackets of the sloop of war 
Portsmouth. 

Seventeen added stars in the silken field of 
heavenly blue marked the semi-centennial of 
progress in California, from that day when 
Commodore Sloat's proclamation made this 
broad strip a free American territory till this, 
when forty-five brilliant points in the azure fir- 
mament mark the sisterhood of free republics 
merged in the greatest government on earth. 
On that never-to-be-forgotten 9th of July, just 
fifty years ago, the gallant tars and the intrepid 
marines of Captain Montgomery's sloop of war, 
stationed in the bay of San Francisco, marched 
up to the same plaza in the then Mexican town 
of Verba Buena to raise Old Glory and to take 
possession in the name of the twenty-eight 
States of the American Union ot the inherit- 
ance of liberty. And yesterday, appropriately 
enough, the bluejackets of the glorious repub- 
lic of the end of the century and the marines 
of the flagship Philadelphia stood guard while 
one of their number hoisted the flag to the 
breeze, and then they presented arms as the 
naval band saluted with the national air. 

It was a magnificent scene, all in the fullness 
of a perfect day, with the beautiful plaza cov- 
ered so thick with people that one could not 
see Nature's carpeting on the hallowed ground. 
The streets beyond were crowded with people 
awaiting the signal bell that was to mark the 
semi-centennial of the commonwealth's actual 
birth into an modern civilization. Flags and 
banners floated in the gentle breezes amid the 
evergreens that fill the historic square. The 
dazzling white uniforms of the men-o'-warsmen 
in double lines marked the hollow square with- 
in which the Hotchkiss guns were to thunder 
the national salute. Blue-coated gunners of the 
Naval Battalion were grouped in the center 
around their glistening one-pounders, while 
bcicH of tlieui was the head an^i center of it all, 




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MAJOR JACOB R. LEESE, 

Of Monterey, Cal. 

C.RAND Marshal, July 7th, 1S96. 

Son of the late Jacob P. Leese, a California Pioneer, 
and nephew of Gen. M. G. Vallejo. 



LIEUT. JAMHv^ 15. UHITTEMORE. 

Reader of Commodore John D. Sloat's Proclama- 
tion. The latter's oldest frrandsou, and who al.so read it 
ten years before at the Celebration of the 40th Anni- 
versary, at the same place, July 7th, 1.S86, as wtll as on 
July 7th, 1S96. 




HON. JAMES McLACHIvAN, 

Of Pasadena, Cal. 

Representative to United States Congress, and 

PRKSIDENT OK THK DAY, 

At Monterey, 

On July 7lh, iSqfi. 



35 



the group of blue-capped, red shirterl, brown- 
coated firemen of the pioneer days — the gray- 
haired veterans that ran with the machine — the 
Exempts of San Francisco, in whose hands had 
been left the dutj' of fittingly commemorating 
the first chapter of American history at the 
Golden Gate. 

Right well had they prepared and elaborately 
did they carry themselves in the celebration. 
Inside and outside of their old fire station on 
Breuham place, facing the great flagstaff, they 
had decorated lavishly. The national colors 
were strung and festooned and draped in all 
conceivable manner of pleasing shapes; their 
machines were sparkling in their glory of glis- 
tening paint and burnished brassiness. Out on 
the street, prepared for the orator of the day 
when the flag should be unfurled, the hand- 
somest hose cart of all had been bedecked most 
artistically for the occas on, a great multi-col- 
ored umbrella above it to protect its occupants 
from the sun, while the engine itself made a 
shining background. 

It was, in every detail and as a maguificent 
whole, one of the most beautiful groupings of 
people and colors ever seen in this city; and 
not one whit of the effect was lessened by the 
Oriental decorations of the houses on Clay and 
Jackson streets and Brenham Place, where, 
from the windows and roofs, the yellow-skinned 
Mongolians peered down upon the crowds be- 
low. The}' were there, no part of the picture 
they framed — a barbaric setting to the glory of 
American civilization. 

The city was en fete, and with the first break- 
ing of snnlight the plaza began filling with peo- 
ple. They came from all directions, men, 
women and children, to secure positions of van- 
tage for the spectacle prepared for them. There 
they waited hour after hour, their numbers 
constantly increasing, until the marines and 
the bluejackets, the members of the Naval Bat- 
talion, Mexican Veterans, Pioneers, Exempts, 
Bands and all were on the ground awaiting the 
hour. 

It was II o'clock before the tars from the 
Philadelphia and the Monadnock and Admiral 
Beardslee's own marines, headed by the red- 
coated band from the flagship of the Pacific 
squadron, swung with steady step through the 
civilian throngs into the Park. There were 
nearly 300 of the sailors and sea soldiers of 
Uncle Sam in the line under command of Lieu- 
tenanant Commander Ingersoll, and the)' made 
a pretty sight by themselves in their hot- 
weather uniforms. The marines were under 
command of Captain Dickens, U. S. M. C, and 
the four companies of bluejackets marched at 
the orders of Lieutenant Brown, Ensign Hay- 
ward and Cadets Lincoln and Campbell. They 
were formed in a hollow scjuare around the 
fiagstafT, on either side of which Lieutenant- 
Commander Turner and Ensign Gould had 
stationed a firing detail of twenty blue uni- 
formed members of the Naval Battalion, with 
two one-pounder Ilotchkiss guns. 

Within this hollow square the gaily capari- 
soned fox terrier dog Gore, the canine mascot 
of Admiral Beardslee's flagship, ran at will, 
barking his J03' at the presence of so many of 



his well-wishers, and frisking around the flag- 
staff at the top of which the flag was bunked 
for the unfurling. 

About five minutes before noon the Exempt 
Firemen were ordered into line on Brenham 
Place by President Bohen, the Veterans of the 
Mexican war, headed by Sydney Loop, form- 
ing immediately behind them. The Park Band 
struck up "Columbia," and, the word of com- 
mand being given, the firemen and the veter- 
ans marched into the plaza, forming in parallel 
lines on each side of the flagstaff. Up close to 
them could be seen the faces and figures of 
many an old pioneer who desired to be close 
enough to smell the smoke when the salute 
was fired. 

To do all this took some little time, and it 
was fully a minute of 12 o'clock w-hen all was 
attention awaiting the stroke of the bell. Sig- 
nal Quartermaster Paul Hermann of the Phila- 
delphia had his hand on the lanyard ready to 
release the flag to the breeze, the tars and mar- 
ines were at parade with their glistening bayo- 
nets fixed, the firemen and veterans were all 
attention, their heads uncovered, awaiting the 
stroke. Already the whistles which denoted 12 
o'clock in the factories of the city were heard 
to sound, a distant bell or two pealed forth the 
hour, but the bell in the big tower was pain- 
fully silent. Not a soul in the big crowd but 
began to suspect that something was wrong 
somewhere, and that an awkward hitch in the 
programme was about to occur. Eyes were 
turned anxiously in the direction of the bell, 
and still it did not ring forth. Everybody was 
sure something was wrong — everybody but 
those who were watching the time ball on Tel- 
egraph Hill, 

"There she drops," some one called out at 
last, as the boom of a distant gun was heard 
and the big ball slid down the pole. The bell 
in the tower pealed merrilj' forth. Quarter- 
master Hermann tugged at the lanyard, and 
at the second stroke of the twelve the flag of 
freedom fluttered its starry length in the breeze. 
A few sharp orders from Lieut. -Commander 
Ingersoll and the men from the warships pre- 
sented arms to their flag; the band from the 
Philadelphia struck up " The Star-Spangled 
Banner," the vast throng uncovering until the 
last note died away. 

" Bang ! " went the first gun of the national 
salute, and " bang, bang, bang ! " sounded the 
reports twenty times more as Lieutenant-Com- 
mander Turner and Ensign Gould paced the 
intervals and gave the command to fire to petty 
officers Harloe and Meyer. The concussion of 
the shots was something to be borne patrioti- 
cally as the great white rings of smoke were 
blown into the air. 

" Three cheers for the flag!" shouted Lieu- 
tenant-Commander Ingersoll, waving his sword 
as the last gun was fired. "Three cheers for 
the flag!" signalled President Bohen of the 
Exempts, and they were given with a will and 
a tiger by the mass of people in uniforms and 
without, the civilians waving their hats in their 
enthusiasm, the well-trained men-o'-warsTiien 
having much diflicultj' in restraining them- 
selves from brandishing their arms. 



36 



The band played " America" as the Exempts 
marched to the speaker's stand and the men of 
the Philadelphia and Monadnock about faced 
to listen to the proclamation of Commodore 
Sloat, spoken through the lips of his great- 
grandson, James Bayard Whiltemore. As soon 
as possible President Bohen introduced the 
young man to the people and the famous mes- 
sage of the Conmiander of the United States 
forces in the Pacific Ocean in 1846, promising 
liberty of person and freedom of conscience in 
the new territory, was read. The voice of the 
descendant of the brave Commodore was some- 
what husky with the emotions stirred up by the 
associations of meniorj-, and he could not be 
heard many feet away, but the people assem- 
bled knew that the words his lips were forming 
teemed with patriotism, and that was enough. 
When the last word of the message of freedom 
had been uttered, another ringing three cheers 
went up for the great-grandson of the Commo- 
dore. The ceremony was ended as far as the 
navy was concerned, and the bluejackets and 
marines marched away from the scene, leaving 
the flag fluttering behind in the care of the 
Veteran Firemen. No sooner were the men-o'- 
warsmen gone than the plaza filled up to over- 
flowing and the crowd pressed forward to hear 
the Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger deliver the oration 
of the day. Dr. Voorsanger was introduced as 
a member of the Exempt Firemen, and the 
orator was cheered. When some quiet had 
been obtained he began his address, which was 
frequently interrupted with hearty applause. 
He said : 

Fellow citizeuF, we are making history to-day 
for the State of California. We commemorate 
the important fact that, almost to the minute 
to-day fifty j'ears ago. Old Glory was flaunted 
to the breeze in old Verba Buena and, thereby, 
a Mexican possession was converted into a free 
territory of the United States. Therefore our 
first duty to-day must be to salute the flag — the 
flag that, these 120 years past, has traveled all 
over the world and represented the honor of 
the American republic as no living being can 
possibly pretend to carry it. It was the emblem 
of freedom, the emblem of honorable enter- 
prise, the emblem that inspired fear in the ene- 
mies of liberty wherever it went. It saluted 
effete monarchies with the message from across 
the sea that all men were free and held no one 
master except the Constitution to which they 
subscribed. 

We salute the flag to day because it waved 
before men, who, without thought of personal 
advantage, obeyed the call of their countrj', 
and, in moments of danger and of peril, simply 
studied the honor and the advantage of the 
Government and not the risk or the danger to 
themselves. In saluting the flag, therefore, we 
also honor the memory of the men, who, fifty 
years ago, stood on this square, and, with the 
waves of the Pacific in sight, and the breezes 
from the West saluting them, before all the 
world and in spite of the government that op- 
posed them, declared that this honorable flag 
was the emblem of possession; and on that day 
— on that glorious 9th of July, — at the hour of 
high noon they proclaimed the same message 



that long before that was proclaimed in the old 
statehouse in Philadelphia; and they saluted 
their brethren across the Rockies and across 
the rivers and the hills; and over the uttermost 
limit of the land they sent forth the message 
that this Mexican soil was Mexican no longer, 
but consecrated to freedom of life and limb and 
conscience, as were all the other glorious States 
which saluted the flag and hailed it as their 
own. 

So then, fellow-citizens, fifty years have gone 
by since that great proclamation of Commodore 
Sloat was read, since it was sent from the 
ship in Monterey bay; and fifty years have 
gone by since American settlers began to rest 
here, claiming under God's providence, this 
land as their own and consecrated it to the pur- 
pose for which legitimate communities are or- 
ganized. These fifty years have been full of 
significance for the people of California and to 
those who afterwards jomed them. 

In that greater coming day there will be new 
wonders here. We will show to the world val- 
leys groaning with fruit and wheat and grain 
and barley; valleys that know no barrenness in 
winter time, the only fields in America'in which 
the grass always remains green. We will show 
them our mountains, white - headed giants 
watching Hesperidean gardens, in which the 
golden apples are sweet and rich and luscious; 
mountains that are the storehouse of floods 
racing down to bathe the valleys in their re- 
freshing richness. And we will show them 
such flowers as they never saw before; our pop- 
pies, our camelias and dandelions, our rich 
magnolias and jasmines, and our miles of wild 
flowers, carpeting the unploughed hillsides as 
no human loom can pretend to weave a web of 
gayest colors. All this we have to show them 
and more; and we will remind them that this 
dear California is a gorgeous edition de luxe of 
Palestine of old, of which Medrash says with 
efiiisive tenderness that every spot in it has its 
hills and its dales. Our holy land, our prom- 
ised land, is this golden spot, and we want the 
sages of Babylon to pay us a visit and leave us 
spiritual blessings for which we will pay with 
loving hearts, smiling faces, the best of every- 
thing and the cheer of a golden land. Tell 
them to come. 

This glorious California, this wonderland, in 
which there is but one regret, that, like in 
other lands, people have to die of old age and 
other causes — this' slice out of an Oriental gar- 
den, more luxurious than any of Boccaccio's 
choice spots, is now fifty years old. That is to 
say, its promise dates back from the time that 
Sloat raised the flag over Monterey bay. I am 
in no mood to recite history, particularly a his- 
tory one can read in a thousand books. My 
fancy rests on the momentous conversion of a 
Spanish province into a free American State. 
That, to a Jew, is one of the epochs in human 
history. Spain, I regret to say, is no pleasant 
word in the vocabulary of free men. The 
charters extended to her colonies barred the 
Jews from admission and they could only enter 
under the guise of the Nuevos Christianos. 
The charter of Upper and Lower California 
does not, I believe, contain such a provision, 



37 



but the charter was issued long after the intol- 
erance of Spain could reckon with the entire 
world. Spain expelled the Jews, and for the 
most part drove them to the East and South, 
back to the barbarous conditions from which 
they had become estranged for centuries. 
Spain sought to keep the sons of Israel from 
the new countries to which the sword and the 
cross had traveled with equal rapidity, but the 
vengeance of the centuries overtook her. That 
is an old story, and I like not to dwell on it, 
though I do confess that for all my preaching 
of not exhuming old issues, my heart is stirred 
with indignation whenever my memory dwells 
on that odious edict that robbed the olive 
groves of Spain of their most industrious deni- 
zens. 

We are here, fellow-citizens, not to speak of 
this disadvantage of other goverments, or 
merely to consider the advantages that have 
come to us from this great feat of fifty years 
ago, but we desire, half a century afterwards, 
to emphasize the great words spoken by Com- 
modore Sloat when he raised the flag on the 
shore of Monterey bay; and we desire to say 
that in all the duties that come to every man 
in the legitimate pursuit of business, in the ex- 
ercise of religious convictions, in the discharge 
of educational obligations. Old Glory has en- 
abled us to do all that free man can do, and 
will enable us, in the future, to do more than 
was done some fifty years ago. 

I want to say to you right now, fellow-citi- 
zens, that when we speak of the flag, the glori- 
ous stars and stripes — now forty-five stars that 
are shining in the American firmament — when 
we speak of it we should not speak lightly. 
When we speak of it let it not be as if it, alto- 
gether, represented the emblem of possession. 
Let us speak of it as the emblem that gives and 
secures unto us our manhood and our woman- 
hood. Let us speak of the fl ig as the emblem 
that promises to the citizens of America the 
safe and unimperiled discharge of every dut}' 
that God can assign to them; and that, with 
the flag in sight, with the flag to protect us, we 
fear neither judge, nor government, nor anj^- 
thing else, but feel that we are a power yield- 
ing obedience to God alone. And so, in the 
consideration of our present duty, let us dwell 
for a moment on the greatness of the legacy 
that we have received. Do you know that al- 
though we are a million strong in California, 
there are a very few people, comparatively 
speaking, that realize the magnitude, the glory, 
the beauty of this inheritance that has been 
secured to us. Sometimes it seems to me that 
we are not as grateful as we might be. 

What does the flag say to you to-day ? What 
are you doing to secure for yourselves this in- 
heritance of freedom that has .so grandly been 
given to you ? Do you know — and I am speak- 
ing here in the open air and beneath God's 
canopy— do you know that when I find how 
often you are running like slaves to listen to 
every heresy, every prejudicial remark that ap- 
peals to your senses, that I am sometimes as- 
tonished. There ought to be but one sentiment 
to-day in the hearts of free men. I will give 
you that sentiment : That the country, no mat- 



ter how it may be divided bj' parties, is greater 
than the State; and that the State is greater 
than anybody. And, furthermore, no matter 
what different opinions may prevail in this 
country, no matter how communities may di- 
vide on the subject of Church or State, that we 
will allow every man his opinion, provided he 
is a loyal man; and that we shall say, further- 
more, bareheaded and with the memory of the 
deeds of Commodore Sloat in our minds, that 
while parties come and go, that while religions 
come and go, we will not interfere between 
parties and opinions, but may God palsy the 
hand that commits treason against the Consti- 
tution of the United States. This is the lan- 
guage of citizenship. This is the language of 
the old Roman patriot who lived at a time when 
all were for the State and none were for a party. 
This is the language that should fall from the 
lips of citizens who consider that, though par- 
ties may fall with the principles they represent, 
under God's heaven there is but one thing that 
shall be perpetuated with honor and with dig- 
nity, and that is Old Glory. 

Therefore, fellow-citizens, take this home 
with you to-day : We are on the eve of a rather 
exciting contest between parties. I do not care 
much whether the one party or the other will 
win upon the strength of the predominance of 
its opinion, but I am interested in one thing 
only, and that is in the perpetuation of the 
honor of our country. I am interested in see- 
ing the citizens, be they for one party or an- 
other, loyal to the Constitution. I am inter- 
ested in seeing that the system of Government 
and all that it means is protected against the 
insidious poison of false opinion. I am inter- 
ested in seeing our schools kept clean from 
partisan politics. I am interested in a judiciary 
which shall be kept incorruptible. I am inter- 
ested in bringing about the times of the ancient 
patriots, when self sacrifice was the great duty 
of the hour and when every look at the flag in- 
spired them to yield their lives and their for- 
tunes for the honor of their country. 

The speaker concluded in a brilliant perora- 
tion, in which he dwelt on the glories of Cali- 
fornia and the inspiring grandeur of the flag 
under which it prospered. Then, suddenly, 
lowering his voice, he directed the prettiest 
spectacle of the entire day. " Take off your 
hats," he said to the multitude. With one 
movement every head in the plaza was uncov- 
ered, every eye was fixed on the ground, while 
the voice of the speaker was heard to ascend in 
prayer. 

Let us pray to God, he said, that our coun- 
tr}', which is the dearest thing we have on 
earth, mayalwa3'S grow in honor; that our peo- 
ple may always be strong in hope, and that we 
never may be ashamed of whatever we shall do 
for the honor of God, the honor of our country 
and the imperishable glory of the flag. 

"Amen," said the speaker, and a ringing re- 
sponse came from the bare-headed crowd, fol- 
lowed almost immediately with ringing three 
cheers for the orator of the day and the senti- 
ments of his address. 

This ended the exercises and the crowd broke 
up, as many as possible pushmg their way into 



3^ 



the home of the veteran firemen there to enjoy 
the hospitality of an open house. Above and 
below stairs the old boys that used to run with 
the machine had amply provided for all comers. 
Up aloft they took care of the ladies, the Mexi- 
can veterans and aged pioneers. Below they 
furnished lunch to the gunners and the younger 
generation that has always appreciated the 
work of their elders in fiery times. In both 
places there was a perfect jam and a holiday 
display of appetite that easily bid fair to eat 
and drink the entertainers out of house and 
home. It didn't, however, for the reason that 
the old fellows had been there before and there 
was no end of their supply. 

At the conclusion of the out-door ceremonies 
the Exempts and their invited guests adjourned 
to the upper hall of the company's engine-house, 
where an informal reception was held. The 
hall had been beautifully and significantly dec- 
orated for the occasion. Draped with the Nation- 
al colors numerous pictures of veteran firemen 
were about the walls. About each of these pic- 
tures groups of hoary-headed fireman were 
gathered all afternoon, and many were the 
thrilling reminiscenses of daring deeds of long 
ago that the representation of features of leaders 
long since departed called forth. 

The President's desk was ornamented with 
huge bouquets and between these were the 
trumpets through which the old officers were 
wont to direct their men. These trumpets were 
also fraught with pleasant memories; in fact it 
was a day of memories, and the old boys who 
ran with the machine when the century was in 
its prime grew young men as they viewed the 
emblems of former struggles with the devouring 
element. 

Prominent among the decorations was a bust 
of Ivilly Hitchcock, the first and only honorary 
member of the Fire Department. It was her 
distinguished honor to be a member of the 
Knickerbocker Company, No. 5. That was a 
long time ago, but she yet lives at Larkspur, 
Marin County, to tell of her popularity with the 
fire laddies. 

There were other things not so ornamental, 
but none the less cheerful, in the hall. At each 
end was a hospitable-looking table laden 
with good things to eat and drink, especially 
to drink, and the open-handed Exempts dis- 
pensed of their good cheer liberally to their 
guests, not forgetting the demands of their own 
inner men. 

There was speechmaking, too, and songs that 
were loud and lively. The speeches were not 
set aflfairs, but they had the true ring, and the 
patriotic utterances with which they abounded 
and the complimentary references to the old 
firemen brought forth applause that would have 
warmed the cockles of any orator's heart. 

Major E. A. Sherman was the first speaker 
called upon. After recounting the history of 
the acqusition of California by the United States, 
he said: "When Commodore Sloat raised the 
American flag down went Church and State,and 
every man, be he what he is or who he is, can 
worship as he pleases. We don't care what a 
man believes. He can go to heaven or the 
other place as he pleases and in his own way. 



"I want to say a word in favor of the old 
flag," he concluded. "The stars in that flag 
came from heaven. There is not a downtrod- 
den race but looks up to those stars. That flag 
is the sun of liberty that shines for all. I have 
been wounded in defense of that flag, and it is 
my honor to-day in this assemblage of its loyal 
supporters to propose three cheers for the stars 
and stripes." 

The cheers were given with right good will. 

He then introduced Capt. W. F. Swasey, who 
was secretary to Thomas O. Larkin, the first 
and only U.S. Consul to California and at Monte- 
rey. His was one of the happiest speeches of the 
day. The sight of old friends seemed to inspire 
him to new endeavors, and as the American 
flag waved before him above the veranda he 
rose and in tones that trembled with emotion, 
said: 

"Old comrades and fellow-citizens: I am the 
only living man who was connected with the 
State Government when Sloat and Montgomery 
rais.d the flag. I was Larkin's secretary at the 
time. We were all waiting intensely, and 
when the emblem of liberty was raised an invo- 
cation went forth from every heart. Never 
until then had we truly felt the power of that 
piece of bunting that represents what all Amer- 
icans love. (Cheers.) Never until then did we 
feel to its fullest extent the flag's permeating 
and protecting power." 

Then he turned to the great flag waving out- 
side the veranda and said: 

"You waving bunting, behold it in glory 
there ! Beautiful flag of my country, emblem 
of protection and safety to the whole world's 
down-trodden humanity! Thou art the beacon 
light of hope, of succor and of safety to all of 
God's liberty-loving creatures ! The eyes of 
the oppressed and down-trodden in all the 
earth's remotest regions brighten and sparkle 
with joy when they gaze upon thy rainbow- 
hued lovliness ! Born amid the strife and 
storms of all the elements that war against lib- 
erty, consecreated in the blood of patriots, the 
most honored and revered known to the world's 
history, what hand shall dare, what heart shall 
conceive the damning infamy of lessening the 
brilliancy of a single stripe or the clouding of 
the lustre of a single star? To us that flag 
symbolizes so much of hope, of happiness and 
of safety that our hearts cleave to it with a love 
surpassing that of man for woman, of mother 
for child. May it wave forever in majesty and 
in glory undimmed." 

Robert Ferral followed with a short extem- 
poraneous speech, telling the story of the flag. 
The speech was a series of dramatic pictures, 
and the orator was heartily congratulated when 
he closed. 

"The pioneers were satisfied," he said "with 
the country they fought for, and did not care 
to leave. You know the story of the Californ- 
ian of olden days, who refused to rise at a 
camp-meeting when the preacher asked that all 
who wanted to go to heaven stand up. Then 
the minister asked that all desirous of going to 
hell should rise, but the grizzled pioneer refused 
to stand. 'What is the reason you don't stand 
up? Where do you want to go?' asked the 




l-lagsluiJ fliiladclpiiia Monitor Monadiiock 

VIEW OK THE RAISING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG 

I'pon the same staff upon the Old Custom House at Monterey by ex-Midshipman William P. Toler, July 
7th, 1S96, who as the Signal Officer of Commodore John D. Sloat, raised it on July 7th, 1846, or fifty years before. 
The Flagship of Admiral Lester A. Beardslee, the Cruiser Philadelphia and the Monitor Mouadnock are seen 
firing salutes in the harbor. 

NoTK.— The very same hitch in the halyards occurred as it did 011 July 7th, 1S46. Midshipman Edward 
Higgins cleared the difficulty the first lime, and it is said that it was his nephew, a seaman of the Philadelphia, 
cleared it at this time, which is a remarkable coincidence. — K. .\. S. 




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39 



preacher at last. 'Nowhere,' said the old pion- 
eer, 'California is good enough for me.' " 

The speaker touched briefly the story of the 
Mexican war, its battles and its victories. 

"The Yankees knew no defeat," he said. 
"They fought on and on for liberty in the face of 
what others would have called defeat. Every- 
where their courage was supreme, and every- 
where the colors waved in glory. 

"In spite of creeds and clans, in spite of polit- 
ical and religious divisions we all respect the 
flag as the emblem of our freedom in this fruit- 
ful laud. I believe that all who saw that glori- 
ous emblem raised to-day felt that it was the 
most beautiful piece of bunting that floats to- 
day beneath the blue dome of heaven. 

"I read one time of an anarchist dying in a 
foreign land, a man weary of old-world govern- 
ment and its broken promises to the oppressed. 
Biting the dust and cursing human laws, he 
died, and when the mourners gathered round, 
next to his silent heart was found a small 
American flag — emblem of what he sought in 
vain in all the world outside. 

"If there is anything that appeals to public 
honor and to patriotism the Exempt Firemen 
are always to the front. 

"To-day, when the passing years have whit- 
ened their heads, the same spirit that prompted 
them in their youth to go forth and do battle 
with the fierce flames prompted them to-day to 
come forth and honor their native land. When 
this flag was first raised over the City of San 
Francisco, this State had the greatest fighting 
men in the world. It has been said here to-day 
that in the Mexican war the Americans never 
lost a battle. This has been denied by Mexi- 
can authority. They say the Yankees were re- 
peatedly defeated, but confound them, they 
didn't know it. 

"It has been said that no man in whose heart 
beats the pulse of liberty looked upon the flag 
which Commodore Sloat raised without enthusi- 
asm. But this is a mistake. There was one 
man. 

"Soon after Commodore Sloat raised the 
American flag, the commodore of the British 
Navy, who had been sent out to make a con- 
quest of California, sighted these shores. He 
sent one of his men aloft and asked him what 
he saw. The man replied he saw some ensign 
afloat. 'What is it,' asked the commodore, and 
the man replied, 'It is the flag of the United 
States Republic' 

"And then Commodore CoUingwood said, 
'Damnation !' 

"We find that Sloat's action forestalling the 
English Government gave us California. Glad 
I am to be with you to-day to honor Old Glory. 
I don't think there is a man but who, when he saw 
that flag run up today and saw it kissed by 
the breezes of heaven, thanked God that he 
was an American and believed that it was the 
finest piece of bunting in the world. I love it, 
not because it is the most beautiful of flags, but 
because it is the only flag Liberty has ever 
given us, and it represents all humanity. 

"It is the flag that gives the liberty of con- 
science. We may bow to different altars, we 
lUfLy \)e Democrats, Populists, or anything you 



please, but above all we are Americans, loyal 
to the grandest flag that ever floated 'neath 
the skies." 

At the conclusion of Judge Ferrall's address 
he was given three rousing cheers and then the 
Exempts started up the chorus, "He's a Jolly 
Good Fellow," which was joined in with a 
will. 

Major Pico, one of the historic guests of the 
occasion, was the next speaker. Major Pico is 
a son of the man who presenteil Portsmouth 
plaza to San Francisco, and is one of the most 
prominent figures in California history. The 
major spoke enthusiatically of the honor which 
he felt, not only in being a descendant of the 
Pico family which had surrendered California 
to the United States, but in being himself a cit- 
izen of this Republic. "I am a true American," 
he said, "and I am also a Native Son. I would 
to-day be proud to go out and fight for that 
glorious flag if my country needed me." 

Harry Niemann, formerly of the Tivoli, en- 
tertained the company with a German dialect 
recitation, which was tumultuously encored. 
Then Gus Pullman, assisted by Niemann and 
Sam Striker, sang, "When we Ran with the 
Old Masheen." It was a song that went directly 
to the hearts of their auditors, and the hearty 
voices of the youthful old firemen rang out in the 
chorus a volume that belied theiryears. Jack Mc- 
Greany, of the Police Department, sang, "The 
Engine that Housed on the Hill," and (Jeorge 
Kinney sang another song dear to the hearts of 
Exempts, "Scanlau's Chief Again." In all 
these the firemen joined in the chorus. 

Charles Wilson, an old Exempt, told a num- 
ber of interesting reminiscenses of early days in 
the department, and warmly eulogized the fire 
laddies of the volunteer organizations. 

James O'Donnell, another Exempt, made a 
humorous and at times eloquent address on the 
flag and the Fire Department. He regretted 
that he was not in California when Captain 
Montgomery raised the stars and stripes in San 
F'rancisco. He explained that at that time he 
was but 14 years of age and had not yet left his 
native land. 

Proceeding more seriously he eulogized the 
flag as the banner of religious and civil liberty 
to which the downtrodden of every race looked 
hopefully. 

One of the most prominent of the guests of 
honor yesterday was Mrs. W. C. R. Smith, 
whose brother, Joe Vasquez, had brought from 
San Jose the flag that was raised in this city 
fifty years ago. " Captain Leidesdorff sent my 
brother to Monterey to get the flag," said Mrs. 
Smith yesterday, "and Joe made the trip on 
horseback, keeping to the mountains and to 
the brush in order to elude the enetnies who 
were on the lookout. My brother finished his 
long ride in very quick time and brought the 
flag safely to this city." 

Mrs. Smith, who is probably one of the old- 
est native daughters in the State, was born in 
San Jose. In 1S43 her mother, Mrs. J. J. Vioget, 
who had married the first surveyor who laid 
out the plan of the city of San P'rancisco, came 
to this city, and soon after her daughter fol- 
lowed. Mrs. Smith, who owned up to having 



40 



been iu ber younger days tbe favorite girl with 
tbe Americans in California, is the wife of W. 

C. R. Smith, a prominent exempt of old " Cali- 
fornia 4" and "Knickerbockers" companies. 

Following is a list of the now living members 
of the old Exempt Company, most of whom 
assisted yesterday in the reception at Breuhem 
Place : 

Clans Spreckels, William Alvord, William G. 
Badger, John S. Durkee, I. W. Lees, Joseph F. 
Marshall, James Smith, Charles M. Plum, 
George W. Keunard, Charles Schultz, Charles 
S. Eeles, W. L,. Ryckman, A. Browning, John 
M. Gardner, Pincus Harris, P. D. Quiulan, J. B. 

F. Louis, A. J. Jessup, Heury A. Chase, S. S. 
Kohu, John S. Dryer, C. Turner, Jr., George T. 
Bohen, Henry Wieland, N. R. Sewell, Isaac 
Harrington, James O'Donuell, P. H. Pleniing, 

E. Valencia, A. P. Hotaling, Adam Smith, T. 
H. Harders, J. J. Crowley, Jacob PVeeman, 
Michael Ryan, C. Murr, John Cook, B. H. 
Schunhoff, R. E. Blauvet, Jr., H. Peyser, James 
Riley, Herman Bendet, Andrew Bahrs, J. J. 
Mundwyler, Thomas Neary, James Grady, Ed- 
ward Commins, E. T. Antony, M. J. Dolan, 
Charles R. Nolte, Godfrey Fisher, Henry Hock, 

G. W. Osborn, William Lark ins, Henry Voor- 
man, Leon Aradon, James Madden, Ed. Steffle- 
bach, R. Caverly, John G. Heim, Simon P'itz- 
patrick, R. T. Brown, J. W. Kemp, Washing- 
ton Irving, John J. Mahoney, George B. Hess, 
J. H. McMenomy, Thomas Fox, James W. 
Kentzel, C. Vorrath, Charles B. McP'arlane, P, 

D. Wilkins, Louis Bendt, Samuel Striker, John 

F. Lyons, Henry Sutliff, Joseph Figel, Francis 
Richards, John McCarthy, Samuel Newman, 
John Stratman, George J. Hobe, S. M. Locke, 
Martin Bulger, Christian Kobicke, John J. 
Guilfoyle, J. M. Priairo, Henry D. Hudson, 
John Brougham, Charles W. Saunders, Joseph 
F. Kohn, Mark Harris, George Grief, T. B. 
Robhison. 

Besides the Exempts, there were also many 
other prominent Pioneers and Mexican War 
Veterans : S. J. Loop, president of the Mexican 
War Veterans; Major Pico, Public Administra- 
tor Freese, Fire Commissioner F. G. Edwards, 
Supervisor C. L. Taylor, ex-Assistant Engineer 
George W. Kennard, "Uncle" G. T. Bromley, 
ex-Judge Robert Ferral, the president of the 
Society of Old Friends; W. W. Mavil, president 
of the Oakland Exempts, and President Phiu- 
eas Martin of the Alameda Exempt Company. 

The committees having in charge the vari- 
ous features of the day's celebration were : 
The committee of arrangements, consisting of 
George T. Bohen, A. T. Jessup, J. J. Guilfoyle, 
Joseph Figel, James O'Donnell and J. J. Mund- 
wyler, and the banquet committee, consisting 
of William Larkins, Charles W. McFarlan and 
Henry A. Chase. 

As a fitting finale to the celebration three 
rousing cheers were given for the flag, and a 
stanza of " America" was sung. 



VETERANS ARE PLEASED. 



Thank the Exempt Firemen for the Generous 
and Cordial Keception Accorded Them. 



[From the S. F. Call of July lo, 1896 J 

The Veterans of the Mexican War met last 
evening at their hall, 22 O'Farrell street. All 
the members were highly pleased at the success 
of the celebrations at Monterey and yesterday 
at the plaza. The first suggestion of having 
such a celebration was made at a meeting of 
the Veterans almost a year and a half ago, and 
it was through the efforts of individual mem- 
bers of the Association that enthusiasm was 
aroused in the matter. 

Major Sherman especially has been verv ac- 
tive in bringing about the celebration, and be- 
sides giving much of his time has expended 
money iu the cause. Last night resolutions 
thanking Major Sherman for all he has done to 
make the matter a success were passed, and 
will be suitably engrossed and presented to the 
Major. 

The following resolution, offered by Henry 
Schwartz, was also adopted by the Association : 

Resolved^ That the Mexican War Veteran As- 
sociation of San I'^rancisco hereby expresses its 
high appreciation of the generous and cordial 
reception its members received from the Ex- 
empt Firemen of San Francisco on the fiftieth 
anniversary of raising the American flag at 
San Francisco by the commander of the United , 
States Steamship Portsmouth, July 9, 1846. 

The following letters of thanks were also sent 
to President George T. Bohen of the Exempts 
and Colonel William H. Menton of the South- 
ern Pacific for their courtesies extended to the 
veterans during the celebration just closed : 

George T. Bohen, President of Exempts. 

Dear Sir : — Please accept for yourself and 
the Exempts the thanks of the Veterans of the 
Mexican War for the very elegant and hospi- 
table reception and entertainment received by 
them from you on the fiftieth anniversary (July 
9) of hoisting the stars and stripes on Ports- 
mouth square. 

S. J. Loop, President, 



Colonel WiivLiam H. Menton, 

Passenger Agent of Southern Pacific Co. 
Dear Sir : — Through me the Veterans of 
the Mexican War wish to express to you their 
thanks for your kind attention and care in 
looking after their transportation to and from 
Monterey on July 7, 1896. 

S. J. Loop. 





? 



MRS. THOMAS G. LAMBERT, 
Of Monterey, Cal., 
Who, with her husband, Capt. Lambert, was in 
charge of and resided in the 0!d Custom House at 
Monterey for upwards of twenty years, keeping- it in 
good repair without any assistance from the V. S. 
Government. We have enjoyed their hospitality in it 
and out of it. She is one of the best wives and truest 
patriotic women in California or elsewhere. She gave 
the use of her lot for the firand Stand without charge. 



MRS. EMILY A. FKSII, 

Keeper of Point Pinos Light House, Monterey Har- 
bor, Cal. & . J 

Chairman of the Ladies' Reception Committee at 
Monterey, Cal., July 7th. 1S96. 

An elegant and hospitable lady of the finest char- 
acter. 

She keeps the light in Uncle Sam's window for me 
and for you and everybody else, and is faithful to the 
trust reposed in her. 





MISS FLORENCE SCHAUFELE. 

The " Maid of Monterey." 

Who presented the key of Monterey to California 
when she entered that city July 7th, 1.S96. 



MISS VIOLA RODGERS. 

The " Nymph of Pacific Grove." 

Who presented the key of Pacific Grove to California 
upon her entrance to Monterey July 7th, 1S96. 





MISS MARION STEVENSON BARNEY, 

Of Vernon Heights, Oakland, Cal. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Great (iranddaiighter of Col. Jonathan 
D Stevenson, a Veteran of the Mexican 
War, and a Calilornia Pioneer of March, 
1S47, in command of the First Regiment 
of New York Volunteers, and stationed 
in California. The first Grand Master of 
Masons of California. 



5^ 



•«f 



MUSS ALICE STEWART, 

Of Berkeley, Cal. 

GRAND MAID OF HONOR, 

Representing the U. S. Army. 

Daughter of Col. Joseph Stewart, U. S. 
A. (retired). 

Past President and Vice-President of 
the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
Vl^ar. 

Vice-President of the Sloat Monument 
Association of California. 

A gallant soldier and officer, a true gen- 
tleman of the old school, and a military 
pioneer of the Pacific Coast, from Cali- 
fornia and Nevada to Alaska. 





MISS ALICE G. CUTTS, 
Of Mare Island Navy Yard. 

GRAND MAID OF HONOR, 
Representative of the r. S. Navy. 

Daughter of Lieut. Commander R. M. 
Cutts, U. S. N. 

Great Granddaughter of Francis Scott 
Key, author of the "Star Spangled Ban- 
ner." 

Niece of Dr. John M. Browne, late Sur- 
geon-General of the IT. S. Navy, who 
was surgeon on board of the U. S. Ship 
Kearsarge when she sank the Rebel Pri- 
vateer Alabama. 



MISS CAMILLE JOHNSTON, 
Of Oakland, Cal. 
SPF;CIAL maid OF HONOR. 
Daughter of Hon. Joseph E. John- 
ston, Supervisor of Alameda County, 
and who sent the first County Stone for 
the Monument. 



Personnel. 






T is proper to give the personnel of the 
young ladies who represented Califor- 
^ I nia, her maids of honor and the repre- 
H s sentatives of the several counties of the 
bB^\ State at the celebration of the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the Raising of the American 
flag at Monterey and the taking possession of 
California by Commodore John Drake StOAT, 
of the U. S. Navy, July 7, 1846, held at that 
place July 7, 1896, that the public may know 
something of those who represented the State, 
the counties, and the various localities. 

As it is considered a delicate matter to men- 
tion young ladies' ages that part is omitted, 
though it may be said that they are still attend- 
ing school. 

CALIFORNIA 

Was represented by Miss Marion Stevenson 
Barney of Vernon Heights, Oakland, Alame- 
da County, California. She is the great grand- 
daughter of the late Colonel Jonathan Drake 
Stevenson, who commanded the First Regi- 
ment of N. Y. Volunteers during the Mexican 
War, and which arrived in California in March, 
1847, having been recruited and organized ex- 
presslj' for the purpose of garrisoning Califor- 
nia during that war, and to settle this portion of 
the United States when the war closed. Colo- 
nel Stevenson was too well known a character 
as a gentleman and officer of the U. S. Govern- 
ment, in both military and civil life, and as the 
first Grand Master of Masons of the State, to 
require any further mention by us; suffice it to 
say, however, that he was distantly related to 
Commodore John Drake Sloat, both of whom 
descended from a brother of Sir Francis Drake, 
the great English admiral who sailed along the 
shore of California without discovering the har- 
bor of San Francisco, but anchored farther 
north and gave his name to "Drake's Bay." 

It was therefore deemed exceedingly appro- 
priate to make the selection of his great grand- 
daughter, Miss Marion Stevenson Barney 
for these reasons, and where her great grand- 
sire had held command nearly ahalf century ago. 
She had, a little more than a year before, so 
admirably represented the State of California 
at the planting of the Lincoln Liberty Tree on 
Lincoln Square, in the City of Oakland, on 
April 15, 1895, by the pupils of the Lincoln 
School, at which, the U. S. Artillery, the Na- 
tional Guard, Veterans of the Mexican War, 
Grand Army of the Republic, and about ten 
thousand of our fellow-citizens, led by the 
Hon. John L. Davie, Mayor of Oakland, who 
were present, that she was chosen to again rep- 
resent the State of California at the Semi-Ceu- 
tennial Celebration at Monterey. 

As the writer does not belong to the "Jenk- 
ins" family he will not enter upon a further 
description than to say, that she is of staunch, 
old revolutionary stock, whose ancestor fought 
at Bunker Hill, and that in every way she was 
worthy to represent our "Golden State" of Cal- 
ifornia on that occasion and justly deserved all 



the honor and praise that she received from the 
admiring multitude of the many thousands of 
people there assembled on that auspicious and 
memorial day. 

HER MAIDS OF HONOR. 

The United States Army 

Was represented by Miss Alice Stewart of 
Berkele)', Cal., the amiable and lovely daughter 
of Colonel Joseph Stewart, of the U. S. Army, 
(retired). He is the father of the first Ameri- 
can child born at the Presidio of San Francisco, 
(now a Captain in the U. S. Army), and also 
father of the first child born on Alcairaz Island. 
He served under both Generals Taylor and 
Scott during the Mexican War, with great 
credit. He constructed Fort Churchill, in Ne- 
vada, and fought the Indians there. He was 
actively engaged in the late war in the East, 
and also commanded the first U. S. Troops, to 
occupy Alaska at Sitka, upon the transfer of 
that country by Russia to the United States. 
He is a Past President and now Vice-President 
of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War. A gentleman and an officer command- 
ing the esteem of all who know him, and whose 
services to his country entitle him to the high- 
est regard of all. His daughter, Alice, who 
represented the U. S. Army, is a perfect little 
lady, kind and courteous to all, but mostly to 
be admired for her filial affection and devotion 
to her honored father. She is of good, old- 
fashioned, true Kentucky stock, raised on Cali- 
fornia's soil, and is loved for her goodness of 
heart, and her splendid qualities. Her father is 
also a Vice-President of the Sloat Monument 
Association, and President of the California 
Pioneer Society of Alameda County. 

The United States Navy 

Was represented by Miss Alice Gertrude 
CuTTS, ; the daughter of Lieut.-Commander 
R. M, CuTTS of the U. S. Navy resident at 
Mare Island. This young lady, possessing 
both beauty and grace, of a kindly and affable 
disposition, but of a queenly demeanor, born of 
natural pride of ancestry, as a true, indepen- 
dent American girl should be, was most fitly 
selected by the officers of the U. S. Navy to 
represent that arm of the Service one of whose 
greatest achievements was in the taking posses- 
sion of California and raising the American 
flag at Monterey that we were about to cele- 
brate. Miss CuTTS, though representing the 
Navy, was the real personification and incarna- 
tion of America herself; and the spirit of her 
great grand-sire, Francis Scott Key, the au- 
thor of our national song, "The Star Spangled 
Banner," fully manifested itself anew in her 
as the American flag was again raised and un- 
furled from the same staff from whence it was 
flung to the breeze half a century before. Her 
uncle, the late Commodore and Surgeon-Gen- 
eral of the Navy, John M. Browne, was the 
surgeon on board the Kearsarge, when she 



42 



fought and sank the Alabama. He had also 
been four years the Grand Master of the Masons 
of California. How her eyes sparkled and 
her cheeks glowed as the flag went up, amid 
the strains of the music of that national song, 
the cheers of the thousands there assembled and 
she saw the flashing and heard the thundering 
roar of the big guns on the flagship Philadelphia 
and the Monitor Mouadnock. Ask Agr, "O, say, 
does the Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the 
Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave?" 
and our word for it, if it was doubted by the 
questioner, he would quickly feel the force of 
left wing of the American eagle, and an answer 
that would be entirely satisfactory. 

The Array and the Naval Alices, 
Are both deserving of palaces. 

First Special Maid of Honor 

Was Miss CamiIvLE Johnston, the beautiful 
and accomplished daughter of Hon. Joseph E. 
Johnston, of Oakland, one of the Supervisors 
of Alameda County. She was selected by Cal- 
ifornia, (Miss Barney), she having been her 
intimate schoolmate at Ivincoln School, Oak- 
land, and her dearest companion of her school 
days for several years. This honor was not 
given to her on this account alone, but as a just 
tribute and acknowledgement of the great in- 
terst taken by her father in the Sloat monu- 
ment. As chairman of the committee appoint- 
ed by the Board of Supervisors of Alameda 
County, by his energy and action, he succeeded 
in having a fine granite ashlar prepared, hand- 
somely polished and properly inscribed, ship- 
ped and delivered at Monterey even before the 
corner-stone arrived there; and Alameda County 
the first on the alphabetical list of counties, 
was also first to have its county-stone on the 
ground. Thus Alameda County being honored 
in the selection of the representative of Cali- 
fornia, as also in the representative of the 
U. S. Army, received this deserved honored 
distinction in turn, as a just recognition of 
personal regard for her schoolmate, and what 
had been done by her companion's father for 
the monument. 

Second Special Maid of Honor and Ala- 
meda County's Representative 

Was Miss Violet C. L/UBBOCK of Alameda, the 
charming daughter of the Hon. Oswald Lub- 
bock of the Postal Department of the U. S. Gov- 
ernment in that city. She was all that could be 
desired in a representative of the county of 
universities, colleges, schools, and the Athenic 
county of our "Golden State." Of a modest, 
sweet, and winning disposition, with innumer- 
able frieuds and acquaintances to attest to her 
goodness and worth, her selection which was 
a surprise to her father and to herself, was 
gladly hailed by her friends who showered con- 
gratulations upon her receiving the appoint- 
ment of representative of Alameda County. 
The "Palmetto" and "Lone Star" States of 
South Carolina and Texas are united in this 
fair, native daughter of California. Her grand- 
father, Hon. Henry S. Lubbock, born in Char- 
eston, South Carolina, and for many years an 
nspector of Hulls, in the U. S. Government 



service, is a pioneer of California, and an ear- 
nest member of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion. His brother rendered gallant service 
under General Sam. Houston in gaining the in- 
dependence of Texas, and bringing the "Lone 
Star State" into the American Union; and it 
was for these considerations as well as her own 
intrinsic worth and lovliness of character that 
she was thus chosen. 

Third Special Maid of Honor and Rep- 
resentative OF San Francisco County 

Was Miss Constance V. Lawrence, the 
handsome daughter of Hon. James H. Law- 
rence, of San Francisco, formerly a State Sen- 
ator, but of late years a resident of San Fran- 
cisco. He is a member of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, and did gallant ser- 
vice under Colonel Ransome, commanding the 
Ninth Regiment of Infantry, who fell at the 
head of his command in the battles in front of 
the City of Mexico. Miss Lawrence several 
years ago was imanimously adopted by the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican War as the 
"Daughter of the Veterans," and her selection 
was most appropriate and the appointment 
naturally belonged to her of right. She is a 
student of the State University, at Berkeley, 
and in due time will have earned and received 
additional honors. 

Fourth Special Maid of Honor 

Was Miss Agnes Lange, the fairest of the fair 
daughters of Comrade Charles Lange, the 
venerable Vice-President of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, who early won his 
honors at the Battle of Buena Vista, and whose 
integrity, fidelity and trust as keeper of Ord- 
nance in the Artillery branch of the service was 
tested for nearly half a century, until by the 
regulations he was honorably retired, com- 
manding the confidence, respect and esteem of 
the highest General down to the lowest Private 
in the army who knew him. 

Fifth Special Maid of Honor 

Was Miss Louise Heron, the beautiful little 
daughter of the late James Heron, of San 
Francisco, so many years the Secretary of 
Wells, Fargo & Co., who died about two years 
ago. He was, when a very young man, a mid- 
shipman in the U. S. Navy, and served under 
Commodore Sloat, and one of the landing party 
which went ashore and raised the Stars and 
Stripes. Surely this little fatherless darling of 
only eleven years of age had the inherent 
right to be present as one of the Maids of 
Honor to California on that glorious day when 
her father had helped to raise the American 
flag at Monterey. Long may she live to be a 
loving companion and a source of happi- 
ness and joy to her bereaved mother whose 
grief at her sad loss of her husband is tempered 
with a feeling of honest pride of the rank 
he held and the patriotic service he rendered 
his country at Monterey fifty years ago. 

Sixth Special Maid of Honor 

Was the pretty, little, winsome Kathleen 
Mullen, the young daughter of Comrade 



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MISS VIOLA C, LUBBOCK, 
Of Alameda, Cal. 
Special Maid of Honor, and Representative of Ala- 
meda County. 

Her father, Hon. 0.swald Lubbock, is in the Post Office 
Department. 

Her granduncle fought under Gen. Sam. Houston in 
the War for Texan Independence. 



MISS CONSTANCE V. LAWRENCE. 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 
Special Maid of Honor and Representative of San 
Francisco County. 

Daughter of Comrade and Hon. J. Lawrence, ex-State 
Senator of California. 

Adopted Daughter of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War. 





MISS DICIE MAY GRAVES, 
Of San Lns Obispo. 

Special Maid of Hinor and Representative of Sau 
I<uis Obispo County. Cal. 

Granddaughter of Veteran of the Mexican War and 
Great-granddaughter of Jesus Jose Pico, who fought 
against us on the other side and surrendered. 



MISS CLARA K. WITTENMYER, 
Of Martinez, Cal. 
Special Maid of Honor and Representative of Contra 
Costa Countv. 

Daughter of Hon Lewis C. Wittenmyer, a Pioneer 
of 1S49, and granddaughter of Comrade Capt. John 
Wittenmyer, a Veteran of the Mexican War. 

She is a Past President and the Chaplain of the 
Native Daughters of the Golden West. 





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MISS DOLLIE D. WRIGHT, 

Of Pacific Grove, Cal. 

Special Maid of Honor. 

Daughter of Comrade Jonathan Wright, a Veteran 
of the Mexican War, who served under Gol. Fremont. 

4^ She was born in the Old Custom House at Mou- 
terev; and under the American flag upon the same 
staff upon which it was first hoisted by Commodore 
Sloat. 



MISS AGNES LANGE, 
Of San Francisco, Cal. 
Special Maid of Honor. 

Daughter of Comrade Charles Lange, Vice-President 
of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican War. 






MISS RUTH WRIGHT, 
Of Pacific Grove, Cal. 
■Special Maid of Honor. 
Sister of the above Dollie D. Wright. 
She was born in Monterey, in the first brick hou.se 
•ever built in California. 



MISS AGNES M. W^ATSON, 
Of San R.\fael, C.\l. 

Special Maid of Honor and Representative of Marin 
County, Cal. 

The daughter and granddaughter of a California 
Pioneer of 1824. Her father, James Watson, when a lad 
of seven years of age, was present when Commodore 
Sloat raised the .\merican flag at Monterey July 7th, 
1846, and was the only native Californian in the Califor- 
nia Hundred, or any others who fought for the Union 
in the East during ihe late Civil War. 



43 



Chari^es Mullen of the Associated Veterans 
of the Mexican War, who was a brave and 
faithful soldier, prompt to do his duty under all 
circumstances, no matter how arduous or labor- 
ious, or in the heat of battle; his conduct at all 
times when on duty commanded the approval 
of his officers and the esteem of his comrades. 
Before the City of Mexico he proved that he 
was made of sterling material, and kept even 
with the front rank in storming a fort, leaping 
a ditch or repelling an assault. Little Kath- 
leen ''Mavourneen" Mullen, had a right 
to be one of the Maids of Honor, for her very 
existence proves the strength of her father's 
conjugal love, and that the ruling passion of 
his life is not weakened in his old age. 

Seventh Special Maid of Honor 

Was Miss Knudsen, the little fairy- 

like grand-daughter of our loved and esteemed 
Comrade Capt. William Duncan, the Past- 
President and present Secretary of the Associ- 
ated Veterans of the Mexican War. She, too, 
had a right to be selected as one of the l\Iaids 
of Honor. Her honored grandfather. Comrade 
Duncan, as Lieutenant and Acting Captain of 
Company B of the Fourth Regiment of Illi- 
nois Volunteers under the gallant Colonel (and 
afterwards U. S. Senator), Edward Baker, 
rendered most gallant and arduous services in 
the battles before the City of Mexico. A most 
honorable record of service attests his valor 
and patriotic services rendered by him to his 
countr}^ nearly half a century ago. His noble 
commander who then set the example to his 
men on the battle-fields of Mexico, was again 
to repeat it at Leesburg and Ball's BluflF, to fall 
at the head of his command in defense of the 
unity of his country, the honor of its flag, 
and to find his last resting place in the 
bed of honor at Laurel Hill at San Francisco in 
the shadow of the monument which covers 
the ashes of his dead friend over whom he 
pronounced his most eloquent eulogy, Califor- 
nia's Senator, the true representative of the 
people, David C. Broderick. 

Such associations as Comrade Duncan had 
with his gallant commander, the immortal 
Edward Baker, and the service he rendered, 
entitled his little grand-daughter of right to be 
one of California's Special Maids of Honor, her 
father being also the first Vice President of the 
Sloat Monument Association. 

Eighth and Ninth Special Maids of 
Honor. 

Were Misses Daisy B. and Ruth Wright of 
Pacific Grove, Monterey County, California, the 
lovely and interesting daughters of Comrade 
Jonathan Wright of that county, a Veteran 
of the Mexican War, who served under Colonel 
John C. Fremont throughout his California 
campaign, and after the war closed settled in 
that county. His daughter Daisy was born in 
the old Custom House and under the American 
flag, flying from the same staff" upon it at Mon- 
terey where it was first hoisted. His daughter 
Ruth was also born at IVfonterey, and in the 
very first brick house built in California. 

Born and reared where our Government first 



took and maintained possession of California, 
and where their brave and honored father de- 
fended it, it was but just and appropriate that 
they should be selected as Special Maids of 
Honor. 

Tenth Special Maid of Honor, 

Was Miss Anna Ketcham, one of Stockton's 
beauties, and the daughter of General Thomas 
E. Ketcham of that city, a Veteran of the 
Mexican War and an active member of the 
Sloat Monument Association. He served as a 
lieutenant in Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson's Reg- 
iment of New York Volunteers in California, 
rendering faithful service at Monterey and else- 
where until mustered out at the close of the 
war, and settled permanently in his adopted 
State of California, and where he has made an 
honorable record, of which he and his children 
may well be proud, and especially of Miss 
Anna, the native daughter of an honorable 
Veteran of the Mexican War. 

Eleventh Special Maid of Honor and 
Representatiae of Marin County. 

Was the beautiful little Agnes M. Watson, of 
San Rafael, a pupil of the High School at that 
place, especially selected by the Board of Super- 
visors of that count}', as requested. Her father, 
James Watson, was present at the original 
raising of the American flag at Monterey by 
Commodore Sloat. At that time her father was 
only a child seven years old. In 1862 he en- 
listed in the "California Hundred" attached 
to the 2d Massachusetts Cavalry and served 
until the war ended, having been in fifty-two 
battles and engagements, and was the onlj' na- 
tive Californian of American blood in the war. 
Her grandfather, Edward Watson, came from 
England to California in 1824. After remain- 
ing here for some time he established a whip- 
saw pit in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1836. 
Then in 1844, he established another saw pit 
in Monterey, not far from Pacific Grove. The 
log cabin and mounds of sawdust are still there, 
and she visited them when in Monterey in July 
last. Her grandfather died in 1848 in the gold 
mines at the Dry Diggings. Surely this little 
patriotic lady was entitled to be made a Special 
Maid of Honor and the Representative of Marin 
County. 

Twelfth Special Maid of Honor and 
Representative of Los Angeles County 

Was Miss Pearle Elaine Gle.\son, one of 
California's most intelligent, refined and tal- 
ented young ladies, second to none in beauty 
and culture in the State. She comes of the 
best and bravest and most adventurous and 
daring pioneer blood that flows in the veins of 
any to be found on these golden shores, and 
the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles county 
did themselves honor and the county itself by 
electing her as its representative as did also 
California, in selecting this young lady from 
the City of Angels as one of her Special Maids 
of Honor. 

She was born in Santa Barbara county on 
Washington's Birthday of the Centennial year, 
February 22nd, 1876. Her great-grandfather 



44 



came to Monterey in 1824, where he lived until 
his death many years ago. He was buried in 
the beautiful old cemetery at Monterey. One 
of her grandfathers lauded in Monterey in 
1841, which place wag also his home until his 
death in 1861, and he also sleeps in the same 
hallowed ground. Her great uncle, Capt. John 
Paty, landed at Monterey in 1834, and traded 
up and down the coast for many years, as also 
did her great uncle. Captain William Gleason. 
Her ancestors were mostly sea-faring men, and 
figured quite prominently in the early history 
of California. It was the historic old vessel, the 
Don Quixote, owned and commanded by Capt. 
John Paty, which carried Governor and General 
Micheltorena and his troops back to Mexico at 
a cost to the Mexican Government of $rr,ooo. 
The same vessel was again chartered to carry 
two ambassadors to Mexico at a cost of I3, 000. 

Miss Gleason is also a grand niece of Harvey 
PORTERFIELD, one of the three survivors of the 
Bear Flag Party, which raised the Bear Flag at 
Sonoma on that memorable 14th day of June, 
1846. Her mother is a descendant of the Dun- 
can, of Duncan's Mills, who built the first saw 
mill in California. So the pioneer blood is 
strong in her veins. 

Miss Gleason at present is an attach^ of the 
Los Angeles Public Library, and is well known 
as a vocalist and elocutionist, and somewhat a 
protege of Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, who 
is one of her warmest friends. 

Thirteenth Speciai< Maid of Honor and 
Representative of San Luis Obispo 
County 
Was Miss Dicie May Graves, selected by the 
Board of Supervisors of that county to be its 
representative at the celebration at Monterey, 
and chosen by California as a Special Maid of 
Honor. In her the streams of the blood of the 
American and Spanish races are united, and 
that which once flowed in hot currents of fierce 
antagonism has found a tranquil and placid 
reservoir from which new rivers of life will flow 
on for all time in our Golden State. The olive 
tint of the mingled Castillian and Mexican 
blood is crimsoned with that of the sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon, and produced a marvelous type 
of beauty peculiar only to California and 
stamped indelibly a new character among the 
people of the Pacific Coast. She is the daugh- 
ter of Mr. Frnest Graves, of San Luis Obispo, 
and on one side a granddaughter of Comrade 
WiLiyiAM J. Graves, a veteran of the Mexican 
War, and on the other the great-granddaughter 
of Jesus Jose Pico, of Fremont fame, whose 
life was forfeited by a violation of his parole, 
but saved by the pleadings of his distracted 
family and the magnanimity of Fremont's 
clemency and humanity. 

Miss Graves completed the list of the thirteen 
Special Maids of Honor to California among 
whom five counties of the State were repre- 
sented. 

OTHER COUNTIES REPRESENTED. 

Butte County 

Was represented by MisS BESSIE Ooi,i,ins, a 
sprightly and handsome young lady of Chico, 



who was the choice of a contest of votes of an 
election held under the auspices of the publish- 
ers of the Chronicle -Record newspaper pub- 
lished in that town. We have no information 
whatever further than that, after her election, 
she received the individual endorsement of 
three of the Supervisors of that county. 

The request was m^de on April 22nd, 1896, 
by the Committee of Arrangements of Asso- 
ciated Veterans of the Mexican War and of 
the Sloat Monument Association to each Board 
of Supervisors of every county throughout the 
State, asking them to provide a stone and also 
the following : " We also desire that your 
county may be represented at the celebration 
by some young lady to be chosen, to bear a 
small silk banner, either red, white, or blue, 
with the name of your county upon it. (Only 
American National Colors to be used). A 
daughter or granddaughter of a Veteran of the 
ATexican War or of a Pioneer, and a native 
daughter of California to be preferred. 

The object in thus fixing these qualifications 
was first to give the preference to those whose 
fathers had bequeathed to them for that and 
similar occasions their natural inherent rights; 
and second, to gather the personal histories of 
the Veterans of the Mexican War and of the 
Pioneers distributed through the several counties 
of the State, that would be thus represented. 

The so called commissioner of the local com- 
mittee of citizens at Monterey muddled matters 
by his intermeddling with the plans laid out 
and presented to the Boards of Supervisors 
nearly a month before, and at his suggestion, a 
voting contest was held, without any direct 
authority from the Board of Supervisors of that 
county, and no regard paid to the qualifications 
as requested, though the young lady thus elect- 
ed received the endorsement afterwards of three 
of the Supervisors of Butte county. The young 
lady herself was entirely innocent and ignorant 
of this matter. The publishers of the Chico 
Chro?iicle - Record had not been previously 
informed, and no blame is to be attached to 
them, and they are to be commended for their 
public patriotic spirit and enterprise; though a 
feeling of dissatisfaction was manifested at the 
county-seat at Oroville where steps had already 
been taken for the same object, and previously 
encouraged by the Supervisor at that place and 
under that encouragement. Argonaut Parlor of 
Native Sons of the Golden West had already as 
a committee undertaken to provide the Butte 
county stone and to furnish the young lady as 
a representative. 

We have no knowledge of the young lady 
that was selected and represented Butte county 
at Monterey, whether she is a daughter of a 
Veteran of the Mexican War or of a Pioneer, or 
even a Native Daughter. A stone, we indirect- 
ly learn, has been sent to Monterey with the 
freight unpaid, and sent to the intermeddler at 
that place. What kind of a stone, its dinien- 
sions, or how inscribed, we are ignorant of, as 
we have had no official communication in re- 
gard to it, and the Receiver of the Sloat Monu- 
ment Association at Monterey under such con- 
ditions is instructed not to accept it. 

These explanations are necessary at this time. 



45 



Contra Costa County 

Was represented by Miss Ci.ara K. Wittrn- 
MYER a very worthy and sterling young lady, 
good looking and of rare culture and refine- 
ment, and at present engaged as a teacher in 
Mills College. She was unanimously chosen 
by the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa 
county and in full accordance with the qualifi- 
cations mentioned in our request made. Her 
father, the Hon. Lewis C. Wittenmyer, a Cal- 
ifornia Pioneer of August, 1849, whom we 
met at Johnson's ranch at that time, near Bear 
River Crossing when on his way to the mines. 
Her grandfather was a Veteran of the Mexican 
War, and was Captain John Wittenmyer, com- 
manding Company F of Colonel Toll's Regi- 
ment of Michigan Volunteers which returned 
home from Mexico in August, 1848, at the close 
of the war, after having rendered gallant and 
arduous service. 

Miss Clara K. Wittenmyer herself has won 
honors not only in scholastic attainments but 
has held the high position of Grand President 
of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, 
and is now Grand Chaplain of the Grand Par- 
lor of that Society, as well as being Honorary 
Member of the Sloat Monument Association, of 
which her honored father is an A.ctive Member. 

The choice of Contra Costa county was de- 
servedly bestowed, and she reflected great 
credit upon the judgment of the Board of Super- 
visors which appointed her. 

Colusa County 

Was represented by MisS Rae G:^EEN, the 
lovely daughter of the Hon. WilIvIAM S. 
Green, U. S. Surveyor-General of California, 
the proprietor and publisher of the Colusa Sun. 
Again was our request heeded by the Board of 
Supervisors of Colusa county in their unani- 
mous selection of Miss Green. Her father be- 
ing an early California Pioneer, a veteran jour- 
nalist and the compeer of Judge Robert Semple, 
Judge Ide, and the personal acquaintance and 
friend of Commodore John Drake Sloat, 
whom he entertained as his guest under his 
hospitable root in 1852, and from whom he re- 
ceived the detailed account of the incidents 
which transpired at the taking possession of 
California and the Raising^ of the American 
flag at Monterey, and of the interview held by 
Commodore Sloat with the British Admiral 
Seymour of the line-of-battle-ship CoUingwood 
of 80 guns, an account of which has already 
been given. 

A beautiful daughter with the strongest filial 
affection to her proud and happy father and 
joyous, accomplished mother, who continues to 
edit and publish the Sun, while her husband 
attends to the surveys of the government do- 
main within the boundaries of the State of Cali- 
fornia. 

I/Ake County 

Was represented by a charming young lady, 
whom we met at Monterey, but not having her 
name, who she was, or by whom selected, it is 
impossible to give the information desired. 



Monterey County 

Was represented by Miss Grace E. Burr, a 
lovely girl selected by the Board of Supervis- 
ors of Monterey county, and her picture adorns 
these pages. But further information it is im- 
possible to give our readers, having leceived no 
official notice of her appointment, and not hav- 
ing learned whether she possessed the desired 
qualifications of being the daughter or grand- 
daughter of a Veteran of the Mexican War or 
of a California Pioneer or not. 

Placer County 

Was represented by Miss Clara Wortell, a 
fine specimen and handsome nugget from the 
" Old Dry Diggings." With the individual 
consent of the Supervisors of Placer county, 
that Board not having met, the young gentle- 
men composing Auburn Parlor of Native Sons, 
with a highly commendable patriotic spirit took 
the matter in hand and in compliance with the 
requirements of the proper qualifications and 
of the first choice, selected Miss Clara Wortell, 
of the town of Lincoln, in that county, a cjaugh- 
ter of Comrade William Wortell, a Veteran 
of the Mexican War, and who landed in Mon- 
terey in 1848. We had the pleasure of meeting 
the very agreeable young lady at the Celebra- 
tion at Monterey and extending a hearty wel- 
come to her, which was most graciously re- 
ceived. 

Placer means also "pleasure" as well as lodge- 
ment of gold in earth, and we hope that she 
may have plenty of both, and not be bound at 
the rate of sixteen to one, but find ample pro- 
tection when she gives her hand and heart to 
one of Auburn Parlor's Native Sons. 

Sacramento County 

Was represented by Miss Cora Hammer, a 
Capital young lady in more ways than one. 
She is the handsome daughter of Mr. M. S. 
Hammer, a prominent druggist of the capital 
city of California, who came to California from 
the State of Ohio in 1856 or 1857 when a very 
young man. We have no official knowledge 
or otherwise of this selection having been made 
by the Board of Supervisors. All we know is 
that she represented Sacramento county, and 
we were well acquainted with her deceased 
uncle, the late L. K. Hammer, Esq., a Califor- 
nia Pioneer of 1849, who crossed the plains that 
year, and was a prominent merchant in Sacra- 
mento for many years; and all of his own chil- 
dren had joined him in that better land; she, 
as his niece, also, was most gladly welcomed 
and received as the representative of Sacramento 
county, of which the writer was a pioneer in 
June, 1849, and forty years ago the official 
county surveyor of that county. We wish that 
Sacramento county would now send a stone for 
the base of the monument, having already sent 
a hammer. 

San Joaquin County 

Was represented by Miss Ellen Patton, one 
of Stockton's beauties, and selected by the 
Board of Supervisors of that county, and we 
believe a daughter of a Veteran of the Mexican 



46 



War as also of a Pioneer, As Commodore 
Stockton, for whom the city of Stockton was 
named, succeeded Commodore Sloat in com- 
mand at Monterey in July, 1846, and finally 
conquered California with his bluejackets and 
the aid of General Kearney and Colonel Fre- 
mont, his picture adorns these pages as well as 
hers, and she will find herself in good com- 
pany. 

Santa Clara County 

Was represented by Miss Daisy M. Cross, a 
beautiful flower of the Garden City, but whose 
name was left off when her photograph was sent, 
and she was hard to find. So, after a long search, 
we discovered the Cross and found a daisy. 
The Supervisors of that county delegated the 
selection of the representative of that county 
to a committee of Veterans cf the Mexican 
War, of which the President, Comrade Samuei, 
W. Boring was the Chairman. Somebody will 
yet be singing in San Jose, " I my Cross have 
taken, all to leave and follow thee." Her pic- 
ture will be found with the rest of the bouquet 
in this book. 

Santa Cruz County 

Was represented by MisS Annie Struve, of 
Watsonville, a lovely young lady selected by 
the Board of Supervisors of that county of the 
Holy Cross. No information is given concern- 
ing her, but having been selected by competent 
authority and their choice backed up by the 
furnishing of a fine granite stone for the monu- 
ment already delivered and official notice sent 
to us by the County Clerk, we have no ques- 
tions to ask, but would like to learn hereafter. 

San Mateo County, 

We are told, was represented by a Miss Julia 
Beeger, but by whom appointed or who she 
was, we are left utterly in doubt. 

Solano County 

Was represented by Miss Marie English, the 
beautiful daughter of the Hon. Joseph R. 
English, a banker of Vallejo, and she was 
elected by the Board of Supervisors of Solano 
county, which also furnished the most beauti- 
ful stone of all for the base of the monument; 
it being of the handsomest onyx and quarried 
in that county. What an exquisitely fine statue 
and pedestal the both would make, with the 
fine white satin banner with the blazing sun 
upon it in her hand bearing the insignia of her 
county. Solano or Solatia meaning a sunshiny 
place, as well as a hot wind. The great inter- 
est taken by her father in the success of the 
Celebration, and in the monument to the mem- 
ory of Commodore Sloat, and she being so 
highly and worthily esteemed by the officers 
of the Navy and their families at Mare Island 
Navy Yard, was a full warrant for the Board of 
Supervisors of Solano county in selecting her 
as its representative as they did. 

Yuba County 

Was represented by Miss NELLIE O'Brien, of 
Marysville, she having been elected at a voting 
contest held under the auspices of the Alarys- 
ville Daily Democrat. We have no official or 



other information that this was ordered, recom- 
mended or approved by the Board of Supervis- 
ors of Yuba county, or that the young lady pos- 
sessed the qualifications of being " the daugh- 
ter or granddaughter of a Veteran of the Mexi- 
can War or of a Pioneer, or being a Native 
Daughter of California." She is a beautiful 
and lovely girl and a perfect little lady, and as 
there was no one else to dispute the claim to 
be the representative of Yuba county, she was 
duly welcomed and received, but it might have 
been otherwise. We have yet to learn whether 
any action has been taken in any way to pro- 
vide a stone that Yuba county should be rep- 
resented in the monument. 

This election contest business was not in ac- 
cord with the plans of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements of the Veterans of the Mexican 
War and of the Sloat Monument Association, 
and uuwarrantedly interfered with our objects 
and purposes as already mentioned in regard 
to similar intrusion into our aff'airs in the Chico 
election contest. Yuba county has not yet 
taken steps to provide a stone, even though in 
this irregular manner a representative young 
lady was chosen and sent. 

In this manner it shows that but little regard 
was had for the Veterans of the Mexican War 
or heed paid to their requests. 

The rest of the counties of the State were 
represented en masse by the other young ladies, 
visitors and residents of Monterey county 
whose names were not given, but formed a 
great bouquet of the whole. 

The Towns of Monterey and Pacific 
Grove. 

Were represented by Miss Florence Schau- 
FELE, one of the belles of Monterey and Miss 
Viola Rodgers, a charming young lady, the 
nymph of Pacific Grove, who presented the 
key of the gate of the two towns to California. 

The Goddess of Liberty 

Was represented by MiSS Edna Ingram, the 
lovely daughter of the Hon. Edward Ingram, of 
Monterey, who held fast to her shield, stood by 
her cannon, making a living statuesque figure 
and representation of an allegorical tableau. 



The following letter from Major-General 
Nelson A. Miles, Commanding General of the 
U. S. Army, got misplaced and is inserted here: 

Headquarters of the Army, 
Washington, D. C, May, 4, 1896. 
Mr. Edwin A. Sherman, 1212 Webster street, 
Oakland, California. 
My Dear Sir:— Please accept my sincere 
thanks for your very kind invitation to attend 
the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of 
the taking possession of California and raising 
the American flag at Monterey; and be assured 
of my great regret that a prior engagement 
will deprive me of the pleasure of being present 
on that occasion. 

Very sincerely yours, 

Nelson a. Miles, 
Major-General U. S. A. 





»>e~%:H--^^^ 






MISS MARIE LEAH ENGLISH, 
Of Vallejo, Cal. 
Representative of Solano County, Cal. 
Daughter of Hon. Joseph R. English. Active Member 
of the Sloat Monument A^s ciation of California. 



MISS PEARL EL-VINB.GLEASON 

Of Los Angeles, Cal. 

Representative of I<os Angeles County, Cal. 

Daughter and granddaughter and great-grand- 
daughter and granduiece of the earliest and most 
noted American Pioneers of California from 1824 down. 





MISS DAISY M. CROSS, 

Of San Jose, Cal. 

Representative of Santa Clara Couu'y, Cal. 



MIvSS GRACE E. BURR, 

Of MONTERhv, Cal. 

Representative of Monteiey County, Cal. 




/ 



/ >»- a' 





MISS RAE GREEN, 
Of Colusa, Cal. 

Representative of Colusa County. Cal. 

Daughter of Hon. W. S. Green, U. S. Surveyor-Gen- 
eral o? California, Publisher of the Colusa Sun and a 
California Pioneer. 



MISS ELLEN PATTON, 

Of Stockton, 

Representative of San Joaquin County, Cal. 




V^ 




MISS BESSIE COLLINS, 

Of Marysville, Cal. 

Representative of Yuba County, Cal. 



MISS EDNA INGRAM, 
Of Monterey, Cal. 

Goddess of Liberty. 

Daughter of Hon. Edward Ingram, .Mayor of Mon- 
terey. 



Resolution of CbatiKs 

TO OUR 

Comrade major €(lwin K Sberman, 

Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements of the Associated Ueterans of the mexican mar for 

the Celebration of the fiftieth Hnniuersary of the Raising of the American Tlag at 

monterey, and the Caking Possession of California, by Commodore 

John Sloat of the U. $. navy 3uly 7th, iS46. 

field at monterey, California, 3uly 7th, 



l$9(». 



At the regular meeting of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War held on Thurs- 
day evening, July 9th, 1S96, at their Hall, No. 
22 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, California, 
among other business transacted the following 
action was taken: 

It was moved by Comrade J. C. Taylor, that 
a committee to be composed of past Presi- 
dents Comrades William L. Duncan, A. An- 
drews, Joseph Stewart, and past and present 
President, Sidney J. Loop, be appointed to 
draft and present to Comrade Rdwin A. Sher- 
man, resolutions of thanks expressing the 
appreciation and gratitude of this Association of 
Veterans of the Mexican War, for his valuable 
services rendered as Chairman of the Committee 
of Arrangements for the celebration of the Fif- 
tieth Anniversary of the raising of the Ameri- 
can flag at Monterej', and the taking possession 
of California by Commodore John D. Sloat, 
on July 7, 1846, which celebration was held at 
that place on July 7, 1896. 

The motion being duly seconded, was unani- 
mously adopted. 

Signed, Sidney J. Loop, President. 

Attest: Wm. L. Duncan, Secretary. 

Hall of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War, 

Thursday, September 20, 1896. 
To the President, Officers and Members of the 

Associated Veterans of the Mexican War. 

Comrades: — Your committee to whom was as- 
signed the pleasing duty of drafting resolutions 
of thanks to our Comrade, Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, chairman of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements for the celebration held at Mon- 
terey, on July 7, last, have performed the duty 
required of us, and in accordance with his 
wishes, have caused the same to be printed in 
the book containing the account of the celebra- 
tions published therein, instead of having them 
engrossed and framed, as we had it in contem- 
plation so to do. 

We therefore submit the following accom- 
panying resolutions as our report: 

Whereas: It is eminently just and proper that 
faithful services in the performance of duty 
should be duly recognized at all times and in the 
general business affairs of life where compensa- 
tion is made for such services rendered; yet when 
there is no other reward to be looked or hoped 
for than the approval of one's own couscieuce, 



at the end of a long and patient service of ten 
3'ears in the arrangement of plans for a success- 
ful demonstration by the people in the marking 
of an epoch in the history of the American Re- 
public, unparalleled in the annals of the world, 
and such long services having been rendered 
gratuitously at a great sacrifice of so much time 
and money for which latter compensation and 
reimbursement has been refused to be accepted 
in return by a comrade of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, who, prompted solely 
by a spirit of the purest patriotism, has devoted 
himself to a most noble object, that of com- 
memorating the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of 
American Occupation of California, and to in- 
dellibly mark the same, by laying the founda- 
tion-stone of the base of a monument, which, 
when erected, shall, for all time, be the witness of 
a grateful, loyal, and liberty-loving people, to 
the memory of the faithful and patriotic officer 
and citizen who first planted the Stars and 
Stripes on these then far-off shores. Commo- 
dore John Drake Sloat of the U. S. Navy, 
who added an empire to our national domain, 
such self-denial aud self-sacrificing devotion, is 
not only worthy of all praise, but deserves the 
expressed gratitude especially of all his com- 
rades of the Veterans of the Mexican War, and 
the general thanks of the people of the State of 
California. Aud, 

Whereas: That we may the better recall to 
our memories some of the services he has ren- 
dered and that the people of the State of Cali- 
fornia may be made duly aware of the same, 
that public gratitude may also be extended to 
him which he so eminently deserves, we cite the 
following facts: 

Under the auspices of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, as Chairman of the 
Committee of Arrangements, he inaugurated 
and successfully carried out the celebration of 
the Fortieth Anniversary of the Raising of the 
American flag at Monterey and Occupation of 
California by Commodore John D. SloaT, of 
the U. S. Navy, which with the co-operation of 
the U. S. Government and the California pion- 
eers which he secured aud made that event 
memorable in the annals of the State of Cali- 
fornia. 

He inaugurated and organized the Sloat 
Monument Association of California, and has 
served as its secretary without fee or reward for 
a period of over ten years. 

He successfully defended and maintained the 



reputation and fair fame of Commodore John 
Drake SloaT against lying traducers who 
assailed the character of the deceased, who 
could not speak for himself, and thus after 
long months of secret and open opposition he 
enabled our Senator, the Hon. George C. Per- 
kins, to successfully carry through the bill in 
the U. S. Senate making an appropriation of ten 
thousand dollars for the erection of the Sloat 
Monument at Monterey. 

He, by his personal influence and laborious 
correspondence, totally unaided, succeeded in 
arousing the spirit of American patriotism 
throughout the State, to the extent of having 
the Boards of Supervisors of the several counties 
to provide stones for the base of the monument 
and to send their representative young ladies to 
be present at the laying of the corner-stone. 

He made a journey to the city of Washing- 
ton at his own expense to secure the co-operation 
of the Secretary of War and Secretary of the 
Navy in the celebration of the Fiftieth Anni- 
versary of the Raising of the American flag 
and taking possession of California by Commo- 
dore John D. S1.0AT of the U. S. Navy, which 
mission was crowned with success. 

Through his personal influence and efforts 
our treasury was aided, that its Relief Fund re- 
remained untouched and the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War were enabled to pro- 
ceed to Monterey and return from the late cele- 
bration at that place without drawing from the 
funds appropriated for the relief of our dis- 
tressed comrades. 

As Chairman of the Committte of Arrange- 
mentsof the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anni- 
versary of the Raising of the American flag at 
Monterey, he gave his time and means' for a 
period of nearly a year and a half, and under 
the most trying and perplexing difficulties, and 
without any appropriations of moneys placed 
at his disposal whatever, he made with the as- 
sistance of the Army and Navy a success 
worthy of the Nation, of the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, of the Pioneers of 
California and of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion in the grand historic event commemorated. 

In the bringing together of historic char- 
acters; the man who actually raised the Ameri- 
can flag at Monterey half a century before to 
raise it again; and the few survivors who landed 
with the forces under Commodore Sloat; those 
who served under Commodore Stockton and 
Colonel Fremont; the few survivors of the U. 
S. Army and of Stevenson's Regiment who 
served in California fifty years ago; and the 



battle-scarred veterans who served with our- 
selves under Generals Taylor, Scott and others, 
in the Mexican War. In the steps taken by 
him for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anni- 
versary of the Raising of the American flag at 
San Francisco, July 9th, 1896, by Captain 
Montgomery, of the U. S. Sloop of War Ports- 
mouth, as also the previous celebration at So- 
noma, of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Rais- 
ing of the Bear Flag at that place on June 14, 
last, all of which deserves the highest commen- 
dation, gratitude and praise. Therefore be it 

Resolved — That we tender our Comrade 
Major Edwin A. Sherman our sincere and 
heartfelt thanks for his long, patient, laborious 
and patriotic services given in behalf of the As- 
sociated Veterans of the Mexican War, 
extending over a long period of years; and that 
while he enjoys our highest esteem and regard, 
our confidence in his integrity and ability, he 
is justly entitled to the credit of having inau- 
gurated and brought to a successful termina- 
tion the celel)rations already mentioned, and is 
deserving the gratitude of the people of the State 
of California, for his patriotic devotion to her 
fair fame and the Nation's honor in the events 
which under his direction have been so auspici- 
ously commemorated. 

Resolved — That we earnestly trust and fer- 
vently hope, that his days may be lengthened, 
and that he maj' live to finish and enjoy the 
fruits of his labors in the completion of the 
monument and the erection of the statue of 
Commodore John Drake Sloat so well be- 
gun, and the foundation-stone laid, on the U. 
S. Military Reservation at Monterey, and that 
to this end he is deserving of the hearty support 
and co-operation of all the patriotic citizens, 
and it is to be hoped that all of the Counties 
of the State of California will be fully repre- 
sented by their stones to be placed in the base 
of the monument at Monterey. 

Resolved — That these Resolutions be spread 
upon the minutes of our Association, a copy 
presented to our Comrade Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, Chairman of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements, and a copy of the same printed in 
the account to be published of our late celebra- 
tions. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Signed, 

J. C. Taylor. 

William L. Duncan, Past President. 
A. Andrews, Past President. 
Joseph Stewart, Past President. 
Sidney J. Loop, Past Pres. and Pres. 

Attest: Wm. L. Duncan, Secretary. 



Officers ana members 

OK THK 



J1$$ocidt(d Ueurans of tbe IHcxican mar. 



Officers. 

President Sidney J. Loop, ist Artillery, Co. G 

Vice-President Charles Lange, 3rd Artillerj', Co. K 

" Joseph Stewart, Coniniauding, 3rd Artillery, U. S. A. 

Secretary Wm. L. Duncan, Lieutenant Commanding, 4tli Illinois, Co. B 

Treasurer Ai^Exander McDonai^d, Sergeant, ist Pennsylvania, Co. B 

Marshal John IMurphv, Ordnance Sergeant, 4th Artillery, Co. M 

Trustee James C. Layton, lotli Infantry, Co. K 

" H. W. KuRLB.\UM, 3rd Louisiana Volunteers 

" J. C. Broderick, Sergeant, and Artillery, Co. E 

" Mathew White, Voltigeurs, Co. A 

" W. C. Burnett, Lieutenant, 15th Infantry, U. S. A 



members. 



Andrews, A....Capt. 2d Ohio Volunteers, Co. A. 

Adams, J. H ist New York Vols., Co. A. 

Adams, Fred'k...2d Indiana and 2d Texas Vols. 
Apgar, Jacob M ist Ohio Vols., Co. C. 

Aikeu, Robert Sergt. ist Missouri Vols. 

Allen, John P "Congress," U. S. N. 

Armstrong, James Sergt. ist Maryland Vols. 

Atwill, Albert B..Sergt. 6th Illinois Vols., Co. G. 
Atkinson, Monroe Capt. 2d Louisiana Vols. 

"Bush, Peter. ..Sergt. 5th Louisiana Vols., Co. H. 

Bush, D. B ist Illinois Vols., Co. A. 

Bannister, J "Ohio" U. S. N. 

Beckhart, J. F 2d Mississippi Vols., Co. A. 

Bingham, George 2d Pennsylvania Vols. 

Baker, Isaac M..Marine Corps, "Dale," U. S. N. 
Brown, F. H ist Infantry, Co. H. 

Brown, George,"Cumberland" "Raritan,"U S. N. 

Bonian, Chas. H Co. H, Col. Daten's Regt. 

Baldridge, \Vm...ist Lieut. Fremont's Battalion. 
Brannagan, Arthur.. Howitzer Rocket Co., U.S. A. 
Baxter, Wm. Owen., ist New York Vols., Co, E 

Bartell, Engelhard 2d Illinois, Co. D. 

Benjamin, Fordyce J ist New York, Co. H. 

Bladin, Andrew 5th Regiment Vols. 

Beddome, Wm ist Iowa Mormon Battalion. 

Barnes, Lorenzo A 2d Illinois Co. I. 

Baily, Oliver H. P. ist Indiana Vols. 

Benjamin, Wm. K Corpl. ist Indiana Vols. 

Blackburn, Abner Mormon Battalion, Co. C. 

Beckstead, Wm. E... .Mormon Battalion. Co. C. 

Bodle, Gabriel "Ohio," U. S. N. 

Baughn, W. P 2d Mississippi Vols. 

Beaty, Addison 4th Kentucky, Co. H. 

Bollen, Robt. W.. .Corpl. 3d Mo. Cavalry, Co. V. 

Bladin, Andrew 5th Tennessee Vols. 

Barber, Jonathan W... Powell's Co. B. Mounted 

Vols. 
Bromley, John L... Orderly Sergt. 14th Infantry, 

Co. G. 
Benson, James Cobb..Corpl. ist Kentucky Vols. 



Buchannan, James, "Levant," "Ohio," "St. 

Mary's," U. S. N. 

Brown, Charles "Ohio," U. S. N. 

Cooper, John A "Potomac," U. S. N. 

Cooper, W. F Lieut. i6th Infantry, Co. F. 

Cranz, Theodore 4th Infantry, Co. E. 

Corcoran, M ist Artillery, Co. M. 

Cassion, Peter 9th Infantry', Co. E. 

Curtis, Joseph R Sergt. ist Louisiana Vols., 

Co. B. 

Cooper, Archibald Ensign ist Kentucky 

Cavalry, Louisville Legion. 

Coulter, George W Missouri Vols., Indepen- 
dent Co., Sergeant 

Cummings, George "Saratoga," U. S. N. 

Cook, Wm. N Sergt. Missouri Vols., Co. I. 

Collier, Irby B 3d Regiment, Co. K. 

Clark, Perry 3d Missouri Calvary, Co. H. 

Culbertson, Alfred S 5th Texas Calvary. 

Cole, George Washiugton..Hays'Texas Rangers. 

Crough, John Samuel Baltimore Battalion. 

Chew, Robert Bensly Arkansaw Cavalry. 

Crawford, James T Arkansaw Vols. 

Council, John 2d Maine Battalion 

Doud, I'rancis Sergt. 2d Infantry, Co. A. 

DeLaney, Edward 8th Infantry, Co. D. 

Dickenson, Wm. LeGrande California Vols. 

Dreydemi, Pierre ist Lieut. Allen's Co. of 

Recruits. 

Drescher, Philips Emmet..3d Missouri Cavalry. 

Dodge, Wm. Henry 2d Missouri Vols. 

Drury, Wm 2d Dragoons. 

Dustin, Thomas "Columbus," U. S. N. 

Dreysse, Ernest C. COrdinance Dept., U. S. A. 

Davis, Thomas V 9th Infantry, U. S. A. 

Dickenson, James Johnson California Vols. , 

Webber's Co. 
Douthitt, David W 2d Missouri Cavalry, 

Co. F. 
Dewell, Benjamin... Fremont's Battalion. 



50 



Ellis, Levi ist Artillery, B. Co. 

Feix, J. F ist Pennsylvania Vols., Co. E. 

PVJsbie, JL B Capt. ist New York, Co. H. 

Folsom, Myrick "Princeton" and "Water 

Witch," U. S. N. 
Franklin, Wm. H ist Pennsylvania Co. H. 

Fisk, Leauder Sergt. ist Michigan Vols. Co. 

Fauntleroy, Wm. H U. S. Navy. 

Fitzhugh, Henrv 2d Missouri Co. A. 

Fellger, John C' ist Artillery, Co. L. 

Freeman, Richard F 6th Louisiana Co. I. 

Ford, Francis Speed 12th Infantry, B Co. 

Fanning, Daniel Missouri Vols., Co. A. 

Galehouse, Fred'k Cor. 7th Infantry, Co. G. 

Gottschalk, J. F. A Louisiana Vols., Co. H. 

Gregory, H. T ist Artillery, Co. F. 

Grady, James 4th Indiana, Co. B. 

Gaemlich, Charles E ist Dragoons, Co. B. 

Glass John N ist Tennessee Cavalry, Co. E. 

Guthrie, Alfred ist New York, Co. H. 

Griffith, Calvin C Fremont's Battalion. 

Gillan, James Sturgis Sergt. nth Infantry, 

Co. B. 

Garden, James 3d Ohio Vols., Co. H. 

George, Samuel G ist Ohio Vols. 

Gregson, James California Battalion, Ford's 

Co. 
Griffin, John Strother Assistant Surgeon, 

U. S. A. 
Glenroy, John G.. ."Congress," U. S. N. Marine. 

Hardy, George "St. Marys," U. S. N, 

Hall, H. R Illinois Vols., Co. F. 

Howell, David 3d Infantry, Co. H. 

Harrigan, Dennis Siege Train Ordnance. 

Hooper, John ist Illinois Vols. 

Hooper George F.. .Lieut. 15th Infantry, Co. A. 

Hill, Humphrey 3d Dragoons, Co. B. 

Hickmott, John ist Iowa Vols. 

Hall, James H 5th Illinois, Co. A, 

Hampton, James W 3d Infantry, Co. E. 

Haser, Willis M 5th Infantry, Co. H. 

Howard, Robert T Powell's Battalion, Mis- 
souri Vols. 

Houghton, S. O Adj. ist New York Vols. 

Halshauser, Fred'k 4th Infantry, Co. A. 

Hays, James 2d Pennsylvania Vols. 

Johnson, Edward "Erie," U. S. N. 

Jackson, J. M.... Quartermaster "Dale," U.S. N. 

Johnson, Almon T 15th Infantry. 

Jones, James T 4th Tennessee Vols., Co. C 

Johnson, Fred'k M "Erie," U.S. N. 

Jones, Wm. D Ohio Cavalry Independent. 

Kane, James Lieut. 2d Pennsylvania, Co. I. 

Kerry, Oswald Corpl. Texas Rangers, 

Baylor's Co. 
Kellogg, James Lieut, ist Georgia Vols., 

Co. A. 

King, John L... Engineer "Princeton," U. S. N. 

Kearns, Adam 2d Ohio Vols. 

Kelly, John L ist Dragoons, Co. A. 

Ketcham, Thomas E Lieut, ist New York 

Vols. 



Lawrence, James H... Corpl. 9th Infantrj', Co. H. 

Lake, David Glenn 2d Alabama, Macon 

Guards. 

Lockman, John M "Germantown" U. S.N. 

Laner, Andrew 2d Artillery, Co. K. 

Lynch, James ist New York, Co. F. 

Losey, William Lousiana Vols. Co. C. 

Leatham, Charles Marine Corps, U. S. N. 

Letcher, Fountain F ist Missouri, Co. H. 

Lynch, Patrick Color Sergt. ist New York. 

Martel, James L.. Purser's clerk "Dale," U. S. N. 

Miileg, F. W 3d Dragoons, Co. E. 

McDonald, Kenneth Coxswain "St. Marys," 

U. S. N. 
Moore, J. B... Sergt. Massachusetts Vols., Co. K. 

Mullin, Charles 6th Infantry, Co. B. 

McKenzie, J. W.. .Sergt. 2d Artillery, Battery A. 

McKenzie, John W Duncan's Battery 

Mearns, George "Cumberland" and "Rari- 

tan," U. S. N. 
Messic, I. G 2d Texas Cavalry, Wilder's Co. 

McKeeby, Samuel C Brady Guards, Mis- 
souri Vols. 

Mullins, Wm 2d Artillery, Co. L and H. 

Murphy, Joseph K "Falmouth," U. S. N, 

McKenna, Patrick Brevet Lieut. 2d Infantry. 

Co. C. 

Meyer, Ferdinand ist Indiana. 

Nottingham, Wm. Thomas 7th Infantry, 

Co. G. 
Nesbitt, Thomas ist New York Co. 

Piper, W. A Light Artillery Missouri Vols. 

Perry, Silas Lieut. J. M. McMall'sCo. Vols. 

Powers, John S... ist Sergt. 14th Infantry, Co. C. 

Purcill, James 5th Indiana, Co. F. 

Parker, Jesse W ist North Carolina, Co. E. 

Rooney, Francis "Falmouth," U. S. N. 

Rose, Wm. L "Ohio," U. S. N. 

Richardson, S. J... Quartermaster "Mississippi," 
U. S. N. 

Ryan, James Etna, U. S. N. 

Ritchie, George D ist Illinois Vols., Co. C. 

Rose, Alfred W ist Illinois Vols., Co. B. 

Rogers, James J 12th Infantry, Co. C. 

Reynolds, Francis H 3d Indiana, Co. G. 

Redding, Enoch ist Illinois, Co. D. 

Rugh, Washington C Corpl. 2d Illinois. 

Rawles, Wm. Edward Powell's Battalion 

Missouri Vols. 

Robinson, Wm. F Cor. 4th Kentucky, Co. D. 

Rourke. Michael U. S. Marine Corps 

Stillwell, George W ist Sergt. Ben McCul- 

lough's Texas Rangers. 

Sampson, Samuel "Falmouth," U. S. N. 

Schaupp, Fred'k 6th Infantry, Co. A. 

Spratt, James W ist Virginia Vols. 

Strickler, J. W Santa Fe Battalion, Co. D. 

Sherman, Edwin A 8th Infantry, Co. A. 

Schwarts, Henry, Sergt. Marine Corps, U. S. N. 

Sellinger, L "Ohio." U. S. N. 

Straengal, Eberhard, ist Louisiana Vols., Co. C. 
Steinmetz, Charles ist Artillery, Co. B. 

Short, Wm. Morris, Missouri Cavalry, Wert's Co, 



51 



Snyder, John W Corpl. ist Illinois Cavalry. 

Scott, Robert James Light Horse and Ar- 
tillery. 

Stamberg, Henry A, Corpl. ist Mounted Rifles. 

Sampson, George ist Mounted Rifles, Co. E. 

Slaughter, Fenton M 2d Mounted Vols. 

Stewart, Thomas "Cumberland," U. vS. N. 

Sexton, Daniel 

Smith, Napoleon B Orderly Sergt. Fremont's 

Battalion. 

Sears, Franklin Fremont's Battalion. 

Stillwell, Roberts 3d Dragoons, Co. G. 

Schneider, Karl 3d Missouri Cavalry. 

Smith, Martin T 2d Illinois Vols., Co. C. 

Shirley, Paul 2d Missouri Cavalry. 

Skelley, Wm. P. ...Lieut. 2d Pennsylvania Vols. 

Sirrine, Samuel D ist Sergt. 2d New York, 

Co. K. 

Santa Ana, Juan E "Ohio," U. S. N. 

Sturzenegger, John Fremont's Battalion 

Tunnell, Martin L, ist Illinois Vols., Co. C- 

Tucker, Jeff'erson, Texas Vols., Bell's Regiment. 

Taylor, John D ist Louisiana Vols. 

Tournot, Peter ist Battalion Missouri Vols., 

Co. A. 

Thompson, Henry Baily...ist Mississippi, Co. C. 

Thistletou, George 2d New York Vols. 

Thornton, John F Santa Fe Battalion, Mis- 
souri Vols. 

Taylor, Samuel S 3d Indiana Vols. 

Tuckerman, Michael ist New York Vols. 

Tilson, Josiah 4th Sergt. 3d Indiana Vols. 

Thurman, Wm. Henry 3d Tennessee Vols., 

Co. E. 

Tidball, Thomas F 3d Ohio Vols., Co. A. 

Thurman, Granville C Knowlton's Co., In- 
dependent. 

Thorp, James H, Capt. Ross' Co., Texas Cavalry 
Vols. 

Tonge, Wm. H ist Dragoons, Co. A. 



Toler, Wm. P Midshipman, "Savannah" 

and other ships, U. S. N. (Raised our flag at 
Monterey in 1846 and 1896, on July 7.) 

Vierra, Tiburcio "Cumberland," U. S. N. 

Walker, J. C ist Alabama Vols., Co. K. 

Williams, Caswell Lieut. Missouri Cavalry, 

Co. B. 

Wallace, Wm. T 2d Kentucky Vols., Co. I. 

Ward, J. Scott 4 th Infantry, Co. H. 

Wright, Washington J, Marine Corps, U. S. N. 

Whaleu, John 2d Artillery, B. Co. 

Williams, George... Fremont's Battalion, Co. C. 

Weidner, Anthony ist New York, Co. K. 

Webber, Henry "Cumberland," U. S. N. 

Ward, Thomas i'Ontario," U.S. N. 

Ward, Alfred 2d Illinois Vols. 

Wilson, John C ist Missouri Cavalry. 

Warner, Wilson 6th Infantry, Co. I, 

West, James G 2d Illinois, Co. H. 

Williams, Thomas Santa Fe Battalion. 

Yeaton, Oliver C Light Artillery Missouri 

Battalion, Co. A 
Yancy, Joseph T... Corpl. ist Mississippi Rifles, 

Co. I. 

HONORARY MEMBERS. 

Major- Genl. O. O. Howard. 

Genl. Thomas F. Ruger. 

Major-Genl. Nelson A. Miles. 

Genl. R. C. Drum. 

Genl. James W. Forsyth. 

Major Charles M. Woodruff". 

Rev. Wm. H. Piatt, Captain 2d Alabama. 

A. M. Kennedy, 'Editor^ yedelie. 

I.IFE MEMBERS. 

J. B. Frisbie Capt. Co. H, ist New York. 

E. A. Sherman 8th Infantry. 

Wm. L. Duncan, Lieut. Com. B Co., 4th Illinois. 



Stevenson's California Expedition. 

18 46. /^r^jrr^Jkirrrr^ry 184-8 . ' 

SOCIETY ORGANIZED %•, 1ST Kl V \|\ HEADQUARTERS 

OCTOBER 241 H, 1883. //' ''^ir^t-^^' "t\ NEW YORK CITY, 



Society of the Survivors 



Tirst Regimem of Hew VorK Uoluntem. 

Col. JONATHAN D. STEVENSON, 

(In service in California during the Mexican War) 

FRANCIS D. CI.AKK, Co. 1), President, JOHN II. WELSH, Co. E, Treasurer. 

i35-'37 Broadway, New York. 271 Greenwich St., New York. 

JOSEPH EVANS, Co. I, Secretary, 

23 and 25 Crittenden St., Newark, N. J. 



— SURVIVORS OF THE REGIMENT. =- 

(Residing ea.st of the Rocky Mountains.) 
September ist, 1896. 
New York City. Boston^ Muss. 

DR. ALEX. PERRY (Surgeon). JOHN A. CHANDLER, Co. D. 

GEO. D. BREWERTON (Lieut.), Co. C. Cambridgeport , Mass. 



JOHN A. BARTLETT. Co. E. 



CHARLES J. Mcpherson, co. b. 

FRANCIS D. CLARK, Co. U. 

GEORGE W. LEANARD, Co. E. Washington, D. C. 

JOHN H. WELSH, Co. E. FRANCIS J. LIPPITT (Capt.), Co. F. 

THOMAS JEFFERSON WELLS, Co. G. SQUIRE G. MERRILL, Co. H. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. ' J^^^ «• MERRILL, Co. K. 

WILLI.'iM H. ROGERS, Co. A. Hampton, Va. 

,.,,,-,, ^ HENRY C. MATSELL (Lieut.), Co. B. 

Litch/ield, Conn. ^^ ^ ^-. , 

JAMES C. L. L. WADSWORTH (Sutler's Clerk). •^'- I-oiiis, Mo. 

.r t A- r DOMINIC MULHOLLAND, Co. D. 

Newark, ^ . J . ^ , 

JACOB W. NORRIS. Co. D. FieUion, HI. 

JOSEPH EVANS, Co. I. F. R. BRIGHAM, Co. B. 

Hackensack, N.J. Monticello, Minn. 

GILBERT E. DEAN, Co. A. JOHN B. PARVIN, Co. A. 

I'ineland, N. /. Davenport , Iowa, 

JACOB J. SCHOONMAKER, Co. A. AARON STOW, Co. K. 

City of Mexico, yi/cr/ro.— JOHN B. FRISBIE (Capt.), Co. H. 



4^ EVERY SURVIVOR OF THE REGIMENT IS AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THIS SOCIETY, 




Colonel of the Hir.st Regiment of New York Volunteers, or expedition of Armed Kmigraiits to California, 
generally known as Stevenson's Regiment. Sailed from New York September 26th, 1S46, atid arrived in California 
Maicli 6th, 1.S47. 

He was elected the First Grand Master of Masons of California April 19th, 1S50. He died February 1.1th. 1^14 
aged 94 years i month and 14 days. 

His history is inseparably connected with that of California and he lived just one-half of his life in California 
or 47 years.— E. A. S. 




MISS KATHLEEN MULLEN, 

SPECIAI, MAID OF HONOR. 

Daughter cf Comrade Charles Mullen, a Veteran of the Mexican War. 
(See Personnel.) 



Roll Of Officers and members 

of the 

Sloat monument Jlssociation of €dlifornia. 

July 7»i), m<>. 

Temporarily formed at Monterey, Cal., July 5th, 1886. Permanently organized at San Francisco, Cal. 

December ist, i886. 



Officers; 

PRESIDENT : 
Washington Ayer, M. D., (Ex-Vice-Pres. Cal. Pioneer Society, etc., etc.), of San Francisco, Cal. 

VICE PRESIDENTS : 
Capt. William L. Duncan, Past President and Secretary Veteran Mexican War and Pioneer, of 

San Francisco, Cal. 
Cox,. Joseph Stewart (U. S. A. retired), Past Pres. Vet. Mex. War and Pioneer, of Berkeley, Cal. 

SECRETARY : 
Major Edwin A. Sherman, Past Vice-Pres. Vet. Mex. War and Pioneer, of Oakland, Cal. 

TREASURER : 
Hon. George C. Perkins, Ex-Governor and U. S. Senator, of Oakland, Cal. 

RECEIVER : 
Capt. Thomas G. Lambert, Pioneer, of Monterey, Cal. 

SERGEANT- AT-ARMS : 
John A, Cooper, Veteran of the Mexican War. 

The first six Officers and the following Gentlemen compose the Executive Committee. 

Hon. William M. Boggs, Vet. Mex. War and Pioneer of Napa, Cal. 

Hon. Jesse D. Carr, Pioneer, Ex-State Senator, of Salinas, Monterey, Co., Cal. 

Hon. Irving M. Scott, President of the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, Cal. 

Dr. James L. Cogswell, Pioneer, of San Francisco, Cal. 

Col. Frank Pierce, Nephew of General Franklin Pierce, Ex-President U. S., Atty-at-Law, San 

Francisco, Cal. 
Rev. a. a. McAlister, U. S. N., Chaplain, Mare Island Navy Yard, Cal, 
Hon. William Frank Pierce, Merchant, of Oakland, Cal. 

Jfcilve members: 

Major-Gen. Oliver O. Howard, U. S. Army (retired). 

Major-Gen. Nelson A. Miles, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. 

Hon. Horace Davis, Ex-Member of U. S. Congress, of San Francisco, Cal. 

Capt. Joseph B. Coghlan, of the U. S. Navy. 

Capt. Charles F. Williams, of the U. S. Marine Corps. 

Capt. Theo. F. Kane, of the U. S. Navy, of the Monterey. 

Lieut.-Commander Royal R. Ingersoll, of the U. S. Navy, of the Flagship Philadelphia. 

Lieut.-Commander a. V. Wadham, of the U. S. Navy, of the Monterey. 

Col. Charles Fred Crocker, Vice-President of the Southern Pacific Railroad Co., S. F., Cal. 

Col. Theodore H. Goodman, Gen. Pass. Agt. of the Southern Pacific Railroad Co., S. F., Cal. 

Major John L. Bromley, Vet. Mexican War and Pioneer, of Oakland, Cal. 

Major Sidney J. Loop, President Associated Veterans of the Mexican War, of Alameda, Cal. 

William P. Toler, formerly Midshipman, U. S. N., and Aide-deCamp to Commodore John D. 

Sloat, Oakland, Cal. 
Capt. Leroy D. Fletcher, of Oakland, Cal. 
Francis Doud, Veteran Mexican War, of Monterey, Cal. 
Hon. Edward H. Hall, of Oakland, Cal. 
Ira L. Delano, of Rocklin, Cal. 

Lieut. J, Reynolds Landis, U. S. A., ist Regt. of Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Jas. W. Forsyth. 
Capt. Cassius E. Gillette, U. S. A., U. S. Engineers. 



54 

Joseph E. Johnston, Supervisor of Oakland, Alameda county, Cal. 

Orrin S. Henderson, Supervisor of Stockton, San Joaquin county, Cal. 

Gen. Thomas F. Ketcham, Veteran Mexican War and Pioneer, of Stockton, Cal. 

Hon. T. R. Weaver, President Board of Trade, San Jose, Cal. 

Hon. J. A. Linscott, Supervisor Santa Cruz count}-, Watsonville, Cal. 

Hon. F. E. Davis, Supervisor, Ventura county, San Buenaventura, Cal. 

Dr. George B. Nichols, of San Luis Obispo, (donated the stone for that county). 

Rev. John H. Macomber, Chaplain, U. S. A., Angel Island, Cal. 

Hon. Joseph R. Engush, Vallejo, Cal. 

Hon. James McLachlan, M. C, of Pasadena, Cal. 

Hon. Lewis C. Wittenmyer, of Martinez, Cal. 

Hon. Lucius A. Booth, Pioneer, of Oakland, Cal. 

Hon. Henry S. Lubbock, Pioneer, of Alameda, Cal. 

Hon. Samuei. G. Hilborn, M. C, of Oakland, Cal. 

David W. Standeford, Pioneer, Oakland Cal. 

Zachary T. Gii,pin, Pioneer, Oakland, Cal. 

David Edward Collins, Oakland, Cal 

Dr. Thomas Flint, Jr., San Juan, Cal. 

Joseph Figel, San Francisco, Cal. / 

Samuel W. Levy, San Francisco, Cal. 

George E. Kennedy, Livermore, Cal. 

Nathaniel B. Holmes, Livermore, Cal. 

Samuel A. Barker, San Jose, Cal. 

Samuel W. Boren, San Jose, Cal. 

William A. January, San Jose, Cal. 

Edward S. Josselyn, Monterey, Cal. 

Henry Sevening, Alameda, Cal. 

Samuel H. Wagener, San Jose, Cal. 

George N. True, Oakland, Cal. 

William C. Mason, Oakland, Cal. 

ecmmlttee of Design and Construction. 

Major Edwin A. Sherman. 
Col. Joseph Stewart, Rev. A. A. McAlister, 

Hon. Irving M. Scott, Col. Frank Pierce. 

Ronorary members: 

Hon. James Budd, Governor of the State of California, Stockton, Cal. 

Hon. Daniel S. LamonT, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. 

Hon. H. a. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. 

Admiral Lester a. BeardslEE, U. S. Navy, Commanding Pacific Squadron. 

General James W. Forsyth, U. S. A., Commanding Department of California. 

Col. O. D. Greene, U. S. a., Assistant Adjutant General, Department of California. 

CapT. H. L. Howison, U. S. N., Commanding Battleship Oregon. 

Capt. George W. Woods, U. S. N., Medical Inspector, Mare Island Navy Yard. 

Capt. C. S. Cotton, U. S. N., Commanding Flagship Philadelphia. 

Lieut. G. M. Stoney, U. S. N., Flag-Lieutenant, of the Philadelphia. 

Lieut. M. S. Gorgas, U. S. N., Flag-Secretary, of the Philadelphia. 

Lieut. Thomas S. Phelps, U. S. N., of the Philadelphia. 

Lieut. F. a. Wilner, U. S. N., of the Philadelphia. 

Lieut. F. H. Holmes, U. S. N., of the Philadelphia. 

Lieut. J. H. L. Holcombe, U. S. N., of the Philadelphia. .. 

Lieut. W. R. Shoemaker, U. S. N., of the Philadelphia. 

Capt. R. Dickins, U. S. Marine Corps, of the Philadelphia. 

Hon. Edward M. Preston, Grand Master of Masons of California. 

Hon. C, E. S. Wood, Son of Dr. Wood, Fleet Surgeon, who sent the information of hostilities to 

Commodore Sloat which enabled him to take California. 
Major William B. Hooper, Occidental Hotel, San F'rancisco. 
Capt. C. L. Hooper, U. S. Revenue Cutter Rush. 

Hon. Hiram Bailey, Chairman Board of Supervisors of Alameda county, Cal. 
Hon. J. R. Talcott, Member of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda county, Cal. 
Hon. W. H. Church, Member of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda county, Cal. 
Hon. W. S. Pelouze, V. M. W., Member of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda county, Cal. 

Note.— Alameda county contributed and delivered at Monterey the first stone for the Sloat 
Monument. 

Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, of Los Angeles, Cal. 
Mrs. T. G. Lambert, of Monterey, Cal. 



Officers and Members of the Board of Trade of San 
Jose which, by request of the Be 
visors, furnished the stoue from 
county for the Sloat Monument. 



Jose which, by request of the Board of Super 
' visors, furnished the stoue from Santa Clara 



55 

Mrs. E. a. Sherman, of Oakland, Cal. 

Mrs. Emily A. Fish, of Point Pinos, Monterey county, Cal. 

Miss Clara K. WirTENMYER, Past President Grand Parlor N. D. G. W., of Martinez, Cal. 

Mrs. Eliza A. Pittsinger. 

Mrs. Blake-Alverson. 

Miss Francis B. Orton, Monterey, Cal. 

Miss Daisy B. Wright, Pacific Grove, Cal. 

William Sutton, Pacific Grove, Cal. 

George Johnson, San Francisco, Cal. 

Peter C. Miller, San Francisco, Cal. 

F. C. Knowles, San Francisco. (Donated Madera County's Stone.) 

Hon. F. a. Duryea, of Auburn, Cal. ] 

L. L. Chamberlain, of Auburn, Cal. | Committee N. S. G. W. which provided the stone 

J. H. Wills, of Auburn, Cal. I from Placer county for the Sloat Monument. 

H. C. Herrill, of Auburn, Cal. J 

C. M. Hatcher, Vice-President. 

A. C. Darby, and Vice President, 

J. P. Fay, Secretary. 

C. J. Steeple, Treasurer. 

William Osterman, 

J. D. Miner, 

L. M. Hale, 

S. E. Smith, 

A. S. Bacon, 

Oswald Lubbock, P. O. Department, Alameda, Cal. 

Including the members of the Boards of Supervisors and County Clerks of the following 
counties that have furnished and delivered the stones of their respective counties as their contri- 
butions to the base of the Sloat Monument at Monterey (their names to be furnished to Major 
Edwin A. Sherman, Secretary of the Sloat Monument Association, at Oakland, California), viz. : 
Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Solano, Napa 
and Ventura. 

The members of the other Boards of Supervisors and County Clerks to be added to the Hon- 
orary Roll when the stones of their respective counties, in compliance with the directions given, 
are delivered to Captain Thomas G. Lambert, the Receiver, at Monterey. 

The following counties have also taken action, and the stones ordered, to-wit : Butte, Placer, 
Plumas, Madera, Monterey and Los Angeles. It is expected that the other counties will soon 
/ollow. 

The stone to be contributed by the U, S. Navy is nearly ready to be sent to Monterey, and 
that of the U. S. Army will not be far behind. The Associated Veterans of the Mexicau War will 
contribute a stone, as also the Grand Parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, which 
latter stone is in preparation, and when delivered to Capt. Thomas G. Lambert, the Receiver, at 
Monterey direct, due acknowledgement will be made and the proper officers added to the Honor- 
ary Roll. 

By Order of the Executive Committee, 

WASHINGTON AVER, M. D., President. 
ATTEST : Edwin A, Sherman, Secretary. 



€rrata. 



OMISSIONS. 

V. R. Thomas Flint, Sr., as Grand Chaplain. 
W. H. A. Olmsted, as Junior Grand Stewart. 



^^^,K 



Report of the Committee of Jlrraitgements 

of the 

JI$$ociated Ueterans of tbe mexican (Uar 

of the 

Celebration of the Tiftletb JIniiiuersarv of the Raising of the Tlmerican Tlag by 

Commodore 3obn D. Sloat, U. $. n., at momerey, California, 

3uly 7, i$46, l)eld at monterey, 3wiy 7, i$96. 



To SiDNEV J. I^OOP, President, Officers and 
Members of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War : 

Dear Sir and Comrades : — As a matter of 
dut)' to the Association who are directly inter- 
ested, as well as the public in general, and of 
self respect on the part of the members of your 
Committee of Arrangements, we deem it proper 
and in as brief a manner as possible to present 
t e following Special Report, which from false 
statements in the public press we deem to be 
absolutely necessary for the protection of the 
honor and good name of this Association and 
the reputation of its members. 

In the first place, it is proper to state that 
the idea of any celebration of the Anniversary 
of the Occupation of California and the Raising 
of the American Flag at Monterey by Commo- 
dore John Drake Sloat of the U. S. Navy on 
July 7th, 1846, first originated with the chair- 
man of your Committee of Arrangements, and 
on May 13th, 1886, upon a resolution offered by 
him which was adopted by this Association, 
our then President, Comrade Samuel Deal, de- 
ceased, appointed Major Edwin A. Sherman, 
Colonels Andrew J. Coffee, A. Andrews, John 
W. McKenzie, and Captain William L,. Duncan 
as the Committee of Arrangements to which 
were afterwards added representatives from 
other organizations to act in cooperation with 
it to celebrate at Monterey, California, the For- 
tieth Anniversary of the Hoisting of the Amer- 
ican Flag at that place by Commodore John D. 
Sloat of the U. S. Navy. 

That celebration was held, to which the U. S. 
Government heartily lent its support by Major- 
General O. O. Howard, commanding the Pacific 
Division of the U. S. Army, furnishing a light 
battery of artillery to fire the salutes on shore, 
and Captain C. L. Hooper of the U. S. Revenue 
Cutter Rush, to fire the salutes in the harbor, 
there being no vessels of war in commission in 
California to represent the U. S. Navy at that 
time. That celebration proved to be a perfect 
success and satisfactory to all who participated 
in it, a full report of which was duly published 
in the newspapers of the day, and also in 
pamphlet form, copies of which have been pre- 
served in our archives and are still in the hands 
of some of our comrades. 

At that celebration the following resolution 
was unanimously adopted : 



" Resolved, That a committee of thirteen be 
appointed to take immediate steps for the 
organization of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion for the purpose of erecting a suitable mon- 
ument in this place to the memory of the illus- 
trious Rear Admiral John Drake Sloat, which 
shall be a proper tribute expressive of the ap- 
preciation of his great patriotism and merits by 
the people of California." 

That committee was duly appointed, the ma- 
jority of whom were veterans of the Mexican 
War; and on December ist, 1886, a meeting 
was held in pursuance of a call, at the office of 
the late John ]\[. Buffington, the chairman of 
the committee at No. 309 California street, 
where the Sloat Monument Association was 
dulv organized with the following officers. 

lion. John M. Buffington, President, Capt. 
Thomas J. Kuipe and Dr. Washington Ayer, 
Vice Presidents, Major Edwin A. Sherman, 
Secretary. Hon. George C. Perkins, Treasurer, 
Capt. Thomas G. Lambert, Receiver, and Fran- 
cis Doud, Sergeant-at-Arms. To which were 
added, Hon. Jesse D. Carr, of Monterey, Capt. 
Joseph B. Coghlan, of the U. S. Navy, Capt. 
Charles F. Williams, of the U. S. Marine Corps, 
Hon. W. C. Burnett and William T. Garratt, of 
San Francisco, and Hon. William M. Boggs, of 
Napa, as the additional members of the Execu- 
tive Committee, while others were added to it 
as members of that Association. 

Subsequently by reason of the deaths of Pres- 
ident John M. Buffington, Vice-President Thos. 
J. Knipe Hon. Joseph G. Eastland and William 
T. Garrett, Dr. Washington Ayer was elected 
President, Capt. Wm. L. Duncan and Col. Jo- 
seph Stewart, Vice-Presidents, John L. Cooper, 
Sergeant-at-Arms, and Hon. Irving M. Scott, 
Dr. James L. Cogswell, Col. Frank Pierce, Rev. 
A. A. McAlister, of the U. S. Navy, and Hon. 
Wm. Frank Pierce, of Oakland, were elected 
to fill the vacancies of officers and members of 
the Executive Committee created by death and 
absence from California. 

The Sloat Monument Association being com- 
posed in part of officers and members of this 
society of Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, has at all times most heartily united and 
cooperated with us in all of our efforts to keep 
alive the spirit of patriotism, and to its Treas- 
urer, Hon. George C. Perkins, U. S. Senator, 
are we indebted for introducing the Bill, and 



for its passage iu the Senate, appropriating the 
sum of $10,000 for the erection of the monu- 
ment and statue of Commodore John D. Sloat 
at Monterey, which is the first step taken of 
any kind for the erection of a monument to 
commemorate American history anywhere on 
the shores of the Pacific, and especially the 
occupation of California. 

Pending this action being taken and prior 
thereto, on March 14th, 1895, at a regular meet- 
of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican War, 
Major Edwin A. Sherman offered a resolution 
or motion that a Committee of Arrangements, 
consisting of three, be appointed to take the 
necessary steps for the proper celebration of 
the 50th Anniversary of the Raising of the 
American Flag at Monterey by Commodore 
John D. Sloat, of the U. S. Navy, to be held at 
that place. The resolution was unanimously 
adopted, and the President appointed Major 
Edwin A. Sherman, Col. Joseph Stewart and 
Col. Wellington C. Burnett as the committee, 
to which were also added, ex-officio, the Presi- 
dent, Sidney J. Loop, and the Secretary, Will- 
iam h. Duncan. Comrade W. C. Burnett being 
absent in the East, Comrade and Vice-President 
Charles Lange was appointed to fill the vacancy. 

By invitation the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion also appointed a committee of five to co- 
operate with the Committee of Arrangements 
of the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War, and Capt. Thomas G. Lambert, receiver 
at Monterey, Col. Joseph Stewart, Capt. Wm. 
L. Duncan, President Washington Ayer and 
Edwin A. Sherman, Secretary, three of whom 
were on both committees, but acting as one 
and representing both organizations. 

Your chairman, in September, 1895, went to 
the City of Washington at his own expense and 
obtained the promise of the most hearty co oper- 
ation of the Secretary[of the Navy for the celebra- 
tion at Monterey, on July 7, 1896, and also from 
General James M. Forsyth, U.S. A., command- 
ing the Department of California. 

Thus assured of the hearty support and co- 
operation of the U. S. Government in the cele- 
bration of the P^iftieth Anniversary of the 
Raising of the American Flag by Commodore 
Sloat of the U. S. Navy, on July 7, at Monterey, 
by the laying of the cornerstone of the Sloat 
Monument on the U. S. Military Reservation at 
that place, and other exercises appropriate to 
the occasion, your committee went forward with 
the duties assigned to it and in the main ar- 
ranged its programme, extended letters of in- 
vitation to those who were to take part in the 
exercises, leaving some minor details to be 
afterwards attended to. 

On the 2d of October, 1895, a petition from 
citizens was presented to the Board of Trustees 
of the Town of Monterey asking for the ap- 
pointment of an Executive Committee to act 
with the Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War in arranging for the proper celebration of 
the P'iftieth Anniversary of the Raising of the 
American Flag at Monterey, which will occur 
July 7, 1896. 

The action was taken and a local Executive 
Committee of five were chosen, viz.: T. J. 
Field, Edward Ingram, Ad. Gunzendorfer, W. 
E. Parker and S. J. Duckworth. 



On Sunday, January 19, 1896, a joint meeting 
was held at which your chairman, representing 
this Society, and Captain Thomas G. Lambert, 
chairman of the committee of the Sloat Monu- 
ment Association were present. The Monterey 
Committee had added three others to its num- 
bers, but no objection was raised. 

At that meeting the following among other 
actions was taken: 

Motion. 

"Mr. Parker moved that the Executive Com- 
mittee make provision for the enter tai^iinent of 
all Veterans of the Afexican War ivho may visit 
Monterey during the celebration; said Veterans 
to be guests of the Executive Committee.'" 

[It will be seen in this report, that not even 
so much as a sandwich or a cup of coffee was 
provided by that committee for the Veterans of 
the Mexican War.] 

It was proposed by the chairman of the local 
Executive Committee, to have sleepmg-cars 
provided for the Veterans of the Mexican War 
for their accommodation, and either in the Old 
Custom House, or some hall or other suitable 
place, tables be set and a collation be prepared 
for their refreshment, but there was nothing of 
either, and the former was not asked for. 

The Sloat Monument Association in April is- 
sued a circular letter to the Board of Super- 
visors of the several counties to furnish stones 
for the base of the monument, and in connec- 
tion with your Committee of Arrangements in- 
vited them to select each a young lady to rep- 
resent their respective counties, the choice to 
be as follows: 1st, either the daughter or the 
grand-daughter of a Veteran of the Mexican 
War; 2d, the same of a pioneer; and 3d, if 
neither of the former can be had, then a native 
daughter. This request was in some instances 
totally disregarded, by local voting contests 
where there was rivalry, and in which patriotic 
regard and gratitude was wholly ignored, which 
was mainly owing to the bungling and unwar- 
ranted interference of a so-called "commis- 
sioner." 

At the meeting held on May 27, 1896, the 
local manager who had been selected, apparent- 
ly, not having much confidence either in the 
integrity or capacity of the local committee, 
claimed that it had surrendered all powers of 
every kind so far as the finances were concern- 
ed entirely to him, and that the committee 
could not expend one single cent without his 
consent and endorsement, not so much even as 
a postage stamp. The conflict of opinions in 
this matter caused him to tender his resignation, 
with the demand to return to him his contribu- 
tion of I25.00 and the reimbursement of all 
moneys advanced by him for expenses w'hich 
was done, and the so-called Commissioner H. 
A. Greene was appointed in his place, and with 
egotism unparalled, soon after assumed the far- 
cical title of Director General, which in the 
management of the expenditures and other 
matters was a change for the worse. 

At this meeting of May 27, Mr. Greene offer- 
ed a resolution that a committee of seven mem- 
bers be named by the President to serve as a 
Committee on Programme for Julv 4, 5, 6 a«rf 
Jih. 



3 



To this motion your cliairiiian objected and 
protested so far as the 7M of July was concern- 
ed; that belonged to the Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War, and they had arranged their own pro- 
gramme for that day and would not be inter- 
fered with, or we would draw out, and as orig- 
inally contemplated, celebrate it with the assist- 
ance of the U. S. Army and Navy, and those 
who had been already invited to participate and 
had accepted. That we did not care what they 
did on the 4th, 5th or the 6th of July, but the 7th 
of July was our day. This was conceded, but the 
correction was not made in the minutes by the 
Secretary, for reasons best known to himself and 
others. That chairman so certaiidy understood 
it or else it was an intended insult to your Com- 
mittee ot Arrangements, when he appointed 
the committee on that programme, H. H. Tay- 
lor, S. H. Daniels, T. H. Sinex, H. A. Greene, 
William Kay, Ernest Michaelis and A. Gun- 
zendorfer, not one of whom was a Veteran of 
the Mexican War, and that committee which 
was for the programme of the 4lh, 5th and 6th 
of July only, had no right to interfere with the 
programme made by your Committee of Ar- 
rangements for the 7th of July several months 
before; they might make suggestions and re- 
conmiend additions, but they had no power to 
interfere, interpolate, or alter our programme 
already made, and we firmly held to the line in 
harmony with the U. S. Government, repre- 
sented by Senators and Congressmen, the Array 
and Navy, and our own organization as Veter- 
ans of the Mexican War, who, with our com- 
rades, both dead and alive, had fought for and 
acquired this country. It was history to be 
commemorated and celebrated by the U. S. 
Government, with our fellow-citizens and our- 
selves, and not a carnival or fiesta in which we 
had not the least interest whatever. Such was 
not our object or intention in the celebration, 
nor would we participate in any such diversion. 
Your committee was opposed to the scheme 
presented of having bull fights and other brutal 
sports that were proposed, and we would not 
consent that our honor and good name should 
be tarnished by any such disgraceful and bar- 
baric entertainment connected with it and be- 
longing to another age and not to that of mod- 
ern American civilization. And so that was 
dropped. 

Upon the event to be celebrated the patriot- 
ism of the State was to be aroused, and the 
Veterans of the Mexican War to be gratified at 
the end of fifty years in seeing the foundation- 
stone laid of the monument to be erected to 
their valor and the honor of the heroic Com- 
mander of the Pacific Squadron, Commodore 
John Drake Sloat, who in faithful obedience to 
the orders of his Government, had raised the 
Stars and Stripes and taken possession of Cali- 
fornia. Contributions from the people of the 
State were solicited on this account. Monterey 
County and vicinity contributed the sum, all 
told, of 12,064.15, to which was added the fur- 
ther sum of 1,629.00, contributed by citizens of 
San Francisco, over one-fourth of which latter 
was contributed by firms and corporations 
whose officers are members of the vSloat Monu- 
ment Association. Making in the aggregate 
the sum of 13,693.15. 



Seeing the apparent intent that but little of 
this amount was to be expended upon the ob- 
ject of this celebration by those in charge of 
the funds, an appeal was made by the chairman 
of your committee, and also by the President 
of the vSloat Monument Association to the Hon. 
Irving M. Scott, chairman of the San Francisco 
committee, that the sum of |5oo,oo or less than 
one-third of the amount contributed by the 
citizens of San Francisco, be set apart for the 
Sloat Monument fund in the laying of the con- 
crete and coruer-stoiie and the county stones 
to be laid. This met with his hearty approval, 
and he endorsed the letter over to the chairman 
of the Finance Committee of San Francisco, to 
collect contributions, but without avail; and it 
was all turned over to the local Executive Com- 
mittee at Monterey. 

Out of this $3,693. 15, only $150.00, or 2^0 per 
cent, was appropriated for the monument, and 
$194 00, or 5^10 per cent for the grand-stand and 
band stands, printing, etc., actually pertaining 
to the day to be celebrated, while so far at pres- 
ent to show for all this expenditure, there only 
remains the concrete in the ground and the 
corner-stone of the monument laid upon it, 
being less than ten per cent, of nearly $4,000.00 
expended on the actual event to be commem- 
morated, and no provision made for refresh- 
meats or entertainment of the Grand Lodge of 
Masons who laid the corner-stone. 

By examination of the financial statement of 
that local Executive Commiteee, accompanying 
this report, it will be seen how well some of its 
members patronized themselves. 

Only the paltry sum of $8.75 was appropri- 
ated to the Ladies Reception Committee for 
California, her maids of honor, and the ladies 
representing the several counties, and from all 
parts of the State. Only the sum of $150.00 
towards the monument, and $194.05 for the 
knives and forks, etc., for a barbecue held two 
days before, which the Veterans of the Mexican 
War never even got a sight or smell of ! $620. 
00 for a board and cloth shanty, misnamed a 
"pavilion," erected on the so-called "Director 
General's" lot, and if informed correctly, the 
lumber only hired for the occasion, and to be 
returned after so brief an improvement that was 
to be obliterated. 

Says the Receiver of the Sloat Monument 
Association, at Monterey, in his letter of July 
12, 1896, to your chairman: 

"Major E. A. Sherman, 

"Dear Sir ajid Brother, — I am in receipt of 
yours of the nth, and in reply to inquiries, 
send a copy of the Cypress, which contains a 
statement of the Secretary of^ the receipts and 
disbursements. By that statement it will l)e 
seen that out of the $3,693.15, the real celebra- 
tion received the magnificent sum of $325.00. 
Out of the $150.00 paid over to me, there is suf- 
ficient left to pay for the transportation of 
about fifteen stones from the cars to the ware- 
house. 

"The admirers of the late Commodore Sloat, 
as well as those having the interest of the mon- 
ument in view, have cause to look to the immedi- 
ate future with much .satisfaction, as Grkknk 
has made a contract with himself, to build the 



mouuuient inside of six months, if he can 'get 
out of the way the old timers who have out- 
lived their usefulness.' 

"Yes, a fine specimen of a monument he 
would build, other than th-it which he has al- 
ready built to his innate treachery, deceit and 
falsehood, and that he has done in a manner 
that will keep its memory forever green in the 
minds of those who know him best." 

The Receiver of the Sloat Monument Asso- 
ciation had little or no faith in the management 
of the chief actors in the local Executive Com- 
mittee and being a minority and powerless to 
successfully act, contented himself with the 
business of watching the best he could of this 
'Ah Sin' directory, hoping to get something of 
an appropriation towards the monument before 
the funds were entirely squandered in another 
direction and for other purposes, for which 
they were contributed by the people. 

Your chairman, though the actual represen- 
tative of the other members of your commit- 
tee, yet was counted as but one, while the local 
committee at Monterey, continually enlarged 
its own membership, increasing its unfair and 
unjust majority, while your chairman could not 
watch what was being done in his absence, and 
soon found that but little was to be expected 
from the local committee when he was present. 

The Board of Supervisors of Monterey 
Count}-, having so long delayed in selecting a 
young lady to represent that county, your 
chairman recognizing the appropriateness as 
well as the justice of the claim of a daughter of 
a Veteran of the Mexican War, who had served 
under Fremont, and she being a native of Mon- 
terey and born in the Custom House, immedi- 
ately beneath the flagstaff upon which the 
American flag was first hoisted, selected this 
young lady who is highly respectable, and rec- 
ommended her to the chairman of that Board, 
who was also the chairman of the local com- 
mittee. This selection, however, was not ap- 
proved, and another young lady was chosen by 
them, not a daughter of a Veteran of the Mex- 
ican War, or even of a Pioneer, if we are cor- 
rectly informed. Consequently, our original 
request made in April last was unheeded and 
ignored. The young lady that was chosen by 
them, however, though not possessing the qual- 
ifications we had named, was otherwise in every 
way worthy, though whether she was a native 
of that county or not we do not know. 

We had originally suggested that the young 
lady to be chosen to represent the City of Mon- 
terey to welcome California and her court, 
should be one of the purest blood of the oldest 
Spanish families of California, and born in 
Monterey. 

This, however, was treated in like manner, a 
contest for votes was entered into which cre- 
ated great bitterness of feeling, the charge of 
fraud being made, and a young lady born else- 
where was elected, and the native daughters of 
Monterey ignored. But the one elected brought 
money into the treasury of the local committee 
and the matter ended there. 

This, of course, was none of our affairs, and 
IS only mentioned as an example of the meth- 
ods used as described by Bret Harte in 'Ah 
Sin.' 



The gentleman we had suggested to act as 
Grand Marshal on the 7th of July, was elected 
by that committee, and with him, your chair- 
man walked over the route for the procession, 
and selected the streets upon which the divi- 
sions were to be formed; but after the same was 
printed, that committee took the matter out of 
his hands, changed it to suit themselves, held 
him entirely subiect to their orders, and he 
being a resident of that place, where he had to 
make his living, did not dare to do otherwise 
than to follow their directions. 

Everything was contrary to promise, in re- 
gard to carriages at the proper stations and in 
the formation of the procession in the second 
and third divisions, all was in general confusion 
but moving with the current of population to 
the grand stand in front of the old Custom House 
where the exercises were held. The general 
dissatisfaction of visitors, some of whom had 
brought their daughters as Maids of Honor and 
representatives of counties was expressed in de- 
nunciatory terms not to be misunderstood. 

The clerk of Santa Cruz County, which sent 
a stone for the monument, in a letter of July 
23, 1896, says: 

"This county sent a young lady to the cele- 
bration with a ver}' handsome banner, and I am 
informed that there was very little courtesy ex- 
tended; an old wagon being the vehicle in 
which the girls all rode in a heap. I should 
say that the arrangements were snide, and that 
the visitors were treated with very little consid- 
eration. 

"If the U. S. S. Philadelphia had been with- 
out a band, there would have been no music at 
all. 

"The proceedings do not reflect much credit 
on the management, so far as I can learn." 

A distinguished officer of the Navy and a 
member of the Sloat Monument Association, in 
his letter of July 31, 1896, says: 

"The circular letter sent to the various 
Boards of Supervisors is most timely and neces- 
sary. 

"The individual mentioned did not impress 
the officers of the Navj' who were brought in 
contact with him in a favorable manner * * 
* * and in the manner in which he treated 
the Sloat Monument Association in the assign- 
ment of funds for the exercise of July 7. 

"The laying of the corner-stone of the mon- 
ument, and the ceremonies attending the rais- 
ing of the flag, were the only events worthy of 
the co-operation of the Navy; and I feel sure 
had the Admiral known what he knows now, 
he would have taken no part in other of the 
features which were side-shows with the forces 
under his command." 

It is unnecessary to continue this unpleasant 
subject any further, but duty and the self-re- 
spect of your committee demand alike that the 
truth should be stated, that the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War, who originated and 
inaugurated the celebration at Monterey and 
under whose auspices it was pretended to be 
carried out, may be exonerated from all blame 
unjustly laid to their charge and for which they 
are not responsible. The mercenary and selfish 
greed on the part of the management of the 
local committee and a bombastic, trickily-dis- 



posed, and so-called Director General, 'who di- 
rectly or indirectly usurped control and got 
their claws into the treasury, (the gift of our 
patriotic fellow-citizens for a noble purpose), 
should receive at the hands of all honorable 
men, the execration and contempt they so justly 
deserve. Their own financial statement as pub- 
lished is sufficient of itself for their condemna- 
tion, and a disgrace to the City of Moqterey in 
particular, and to the State of California at 
large. "Let the galled jade wince, our withers 
are unwrung." 

We shall see to it that they keep their hands 
off the stones of the monument and have no lot 
or part in its completion or dedication. There 
are plenty of good people in Monterey, and 
we will select them ourselves when we want 
their assistance and they are willing to serve. 

It was not to be expected that much enthusi- 
asm would be created among the survivors of 
the old California Spanish families, who had 
seen the flags of Spain and Mexico under which 
they were born and reared forever depart 
from their soil, to give way to that of the con- 
querer, even though to enjoy a greater freedom 
than they did before. The sacred traditions of 
the past they cannot forget, while to learn a 
strange and foreign language, difficult to com- 
prehend, was a task they could not cheerfully 
undertake. The Castilian, musical in its tone 
and with rhythmical perfection will still linger 
upon the tongue and sound sweetly melodious 
to the ear. The younger generation clinging 
to the old, and though mingled with the Anglo- 
Saxon and other bloods, naturally in heart must 
remain neutral to a great degree, and the purest 



love of American liberty, of American institu- 
tions, and of the American flag is to yet in 
future generations find its full development. 

We entertain the highest regard and respect 
for the honorable, hospitable, kind and court- 
eous Spanish families of the old California 
stock. We have shared their hospitality in the 
fifty years gone by, and friendshi])s have been 
formed and cherished with them that will never 
die. The Vallejos, Pachecos, Carillos, Macha- 
dos, Lugos, De la Guerras, and hundreds of 
others with whom we have associated are our 
friends and we will be aniigos por sietnpie. 
But for the intriguer and intruder into their do- 
main, who seeks to ally himself with their for- 
tunes, to make them his dupes, and betray 
them at last, is too despicable a wretch to be 
permitted to remain upon California's soil, or 
breathe its ambient air. 

The monument to Admiral Sloat will be 
erected and his statue unveiled with appropriate 
ceremonies equal to those in the laying of the 
corner-stone and in its dedication, the Veterans 
of the Mexican War will around it form the 
chain of brotherhood, while amidst the thunder 
of cannon on the sea and the crashmg roar of 
artillery upon the shore, the plaudits of thous- 
ands of the grateful people of California, will 
sing through the arches of the heavens, "Glory 
to God in the Highest; Glory to our Country 
on the Land and on the Sea, and to Old Glory 
itself, which will flame forevermore." 

All of which is respectfully submitted, 
Edwin A. Shkrm.\n, 

Chairman of Committee. 



FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

Of Receipts and Disbursements of California's Jubilee. 



Monterey, Cal., July lo, 1896. 
To the People of California : 

Some time ago the Executive Committee of 
the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Ameri- 
can Occupation of California, through its duly 
authorized officers, appealed to you for finan- 
cial assistance in aid of the celebration which 
the people of Monterey were at that time ar- 
ranging to commemorate the flag-raising of 
fifty years ago. 

The response was general and generous. 

A faithful accounting was promised of all 
funds entrusted to our care, and we are proud 
to now fulfil that promise. 

The Executive Committee invites the public 
at large to scrutinize its account with The Bank 
of Monterey, where all the funds collected for 
celebration purposes were deposited. 

We publish in full the heading of the sub- 
scription lists that were circulated by the Exec- 
utive Committee for the reason that statements 
have been made to the effect that all the money 
collected for or on account of the celebration 
just closed was collected from the people of the 
State under the pretext that it would be de- 
voted towards defraying the expense of laying 
the corner-stone of the Sloat Monument. 



That this is untrue is proven by the subscrip- 
tion lists themselves: 

We hereby promise that the sums set oppo- 
site our respective names will be paid to the 
Executive Committee of the Semi-Centennial 
Celebration at any time within fifteen days 
from the date hereof; Provided, that said com- 
mittee will, within that time, make provision 
for the holding of a four days' celebration in 
Monterey, viz.: On July 4th, 5lh, 6th, and 7th. 

Maxfield & Day |J7 5° 

Mrs. P. Hutt 10 CO 

George L- Ruhl 10 00 

Schaufele Bros 17 50 

N. Tickvitza 2500 

Pidge »Si Heron 10 00 

W. B. Higgins.. 20 00 

M. Chambre and wife 20 00 

L. C. Wolford 3 00 

C. R. Few 15 00 

A. A. Osio .S 00 

R. C. Wornes 17 5° 

M. Lewis 7 5° 

W. S. Gibson 2 00 

J. Leppert 2 00 

J. Jemin 5 00 

A. Goldstine 5 00 



6 



oo 

oo 

I oo 



W.E.Crawford 5 oo 

Mrs. C. Underwood 5 oo 

M. Harris 3 

J. Shulte, Jr i 

A. Vidal 

G. S. Hamilton i oo 

J. Rodriguez 2 oo 

A. Gushing 500 

W. C. Cochran ' 5 00 

William Hanuon 5 00 

T. G. Lambert 5 00 

J. Pedro 2 50 

W. Bergschicker 2 00 

Murphy, Grant &. Co 10 00 

We hereby promise to pa}- the sums set oppo- 
site our respective names for the purpose of 
defraying the expenses of the Semi-Centennial 
Celebration in the city of Monterey, July 4th, 
5th, 6th and 7th, 1896: 

The City of Monterey I500 00 

The Bank of Monterey 250 00 

David Jacks 100 00 

Edward Berwick 25 00 

J. R. Kennedy 20 00 

The City of Pacific Grove 200 00 

Pacific Improvement Company 100 00 

T. J. Field 25 00 

Edward Ingram 25 00 

W. Bergschicker 2 50 

Anway & Hutchinson 5 00 

F. M. Hilby 5 00 

M. Ortins 10 00 

M. Lewis 2 50 

A. Garrick 2 00 

Samuel Hanna... 2 00 

S. E. Pardee 5 00 

J. B. Snively 10 00 

J. A. Girardin i 00 

Frank Hellam 5 00 

A. A. Manuel 10 00 

J. M. Laporte 2 00 

F. Gunzendorfer & Son 10 00 

J. F. Moore 2 00 

George Bertold 3 00 

C. Plapp 5 00 

F. Zimmermann 2 00 

A. J. Vidulich 1000 

Collected in the City and County of San Fran- 
cisco by Hon. L. R. Ellert and S. H. Daniels, 
Esq., for the Semi-Centennial Celebration pro- 
posed to be given by the Executive Committee 
(appointed by the Board of Trustees of the City 
of Monterey) in conjunction with the General 
Committee in San Francisco, of which Hon. 
Irving M. Scott is president: 

James D. Phelan $ 250 00 

H. Weil 100 00 

M. Babcock 25 00 

Union Iron Works 250 00 

A. Hayward 50 00 

W. P. F'uller & Co 50 00 

McLaughlin & Co 50 00 

J. H. Crocker Co 50 00 

H. S. Crocker 25 00 

Southern Pacific Co 200 00 

Bank of California 100 00 

Nevada Bank 50 00 

Anglo-California Bank 25 00 

Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Bank 50 00 



Hibernia S. & L. Society 50 00 

Van Sicklen 25 00 

J. D. Spreckels Bros 50 00 

London, Paris & American Bank 25 00 

Donohoe-Kelly Co 20 00 

Crocker- Wol worth Bank 25 00 

G. W. McNear 20 00 

L. Gerstee 50 00 

Other donations received by Mr. Dan- 
iels subsequent to receipt at Mon- 
terey office of above list .. 95 00 

Total receipts from subscriptions for 

expenses of Jubilee celebration $3219 00 

Executive Committee's percentage from 
ballots cast for the young lady to 
represent Monterey City in the par- 
ade July 7, 1896, — Monterey Cypress, 208 75 
Monterey New Era 126 25 

Executive Committee's percentage of 
receipts from transportation of pas- 
sengers to and from the U. S. S. Phil- 
adelphia and Monadnock 142 15 

Total receipts from all sources $3696 15 

Less amount of insurance policy paid 
for by William Hannon and credited 
to him as cash 3 00 

Net cash received by Executive Com- 
mittee I3693 15 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Check No. i, Edward Berwick, sub- 
scription returned and sundry ex- 
penses as General Manager 93 90 

Check No. 2, Manuel Wolter, labor i 50 

Check No. 3, F. Schneider, type-writ- 
ing 2 75 

Check No. 4, S. J. Duckworth, postage 2 00 

Check No. 5, S. J. Duckworth, furni- 
ture and decorations 34 00 

Check No. 6, S. H. Daniels, 1000 litho- 
graphs 65 00 

Check No. 7, S. H. Daniels, design of 

lithograph 10 00 

Check No. 8, William Kay, printing.... 19 75 

Check No. 9, Ferris & Scoble, banner 

for headquarters 15 00 

Check No. 10, Wells, Fargo & Co., 

score for Living Flag and expressage 12 75 

Check No. n, J. B. Snively, telegrams 6 71 

Check No. 12, H. A. Greene, traveling 

expenses 53 95 

Check No. 13. Murphy, Grant & Co., 

bunting 131 87 

Check No. 14, H. A. Greene, fund for 

payment of contingent expenses 200 00 

Check No. 15, H. A. Greene, inciden- 
tal expenses 5 05 

Check No. 16, Houghton & Warren, 
pavilion and closets 620 00 

Check No. 17, R. A. Mauldin, stairs at 

P. C. S. S. wharf. 91 20 

Check No. 18, Ferris & Scoble, descrip- 
tive scrolls 10 00 

Check No. 19, F. Gunzendorfer & Sou, 

caps and sundries 3^ 50 

Check No. 20, issued to wrong party 
and canceled 



Check No. 21, T, G, Lambert, Execu- 
tive Committee's donation towards 
defraying expenses of corner-stone 
for Sloat Monument 150 00 

Check No. 22, A. A. Manuel, buckets.. i 00 

Check No. 23, William Kay, printing 7 75 

Check No. 24, S. E. Pardee, sundry 

mdse 3 85 

Check No. 25, E. B. Gross, drayage..... 3 00 

Check No. 26, C. A. Warren, grand 

and bandstands 175 00 

Cneck No. 27, Monterey Cypress, print- 
ing 23 25 

Check No. 28, Edward Allen, sundry 

items of labor at picnic 33 50 

(Original bill, f43.5o; paid by H. A. 
Greene, |io). 

Check No. 29. Frank Peirce, chains for 

cups I 00 

Check No. 30, A. Gushing & Co., dray- 
age 5 50 

Check No. 31, Prof. L. P. Flores, music 119 00 

Check No. 32, Manuel Wolter, labor 

of self and assistant at pavilion 20 00 

Check No. 33, J. A. Girardiu, sundry 

mdse 2 70 

Check No. 34, R. Morey, drayage 12 00 

Check No. 35, Mrs. Anna Galanar, rent 

of piano 5 00 

Check No. 36, Monterey Meat Co., meat 90 45 

Check No. 37, S. W. Kilpatrick, fruit... 60 00 

Check No. 38, Del Monte Creamery, 

butter 15 00 

Check No. 39, Wm. Lemos, decorations 58 00 
(Original amount due, I130, paid by 
H. A. Greene on account, I72). 

Check No. 40, T. G. Lambert, lumber.. 5 40 

Check No. 41, Mrs. A. Berg, meals 2 00 

Check No. 42, Mrs. E. Schulte, caps 

and dresses. Living Flag •.••.•••• ^ °^ 

Check No. 43, F.Schneider, typewriting 7 00 

Check No. 44, F. Gunzendorfer & Son, 
knives, forks, pans, plates, napkins, 
etc., for picnic, July 5th 194 05 

Check No. 45, J. P. Sargent, Wild West 

Show 100 00 

Check No. 46, A. L. Luce, services as 

usher 13 00 

Check No. 47, Grant Towle, services 
as ticket agent 11 00 

Check No. 48, E. Duarte, services as 

usher 11 00 

Check No. 49, C. A. Warren, services 

as usher 4 00 

Check No. 50, William Higgins, labor 2 00 

Check No. 51, W. E. Parker, Chief 
Monterey Fire Department, prize for 
hook and ladder contest 50 00 

Check No. 52, H. V. Trafton, trainer 
Watsonville hose team, ist prize, 
hose contest 150 00 

Check No. 53, W. E. Parker, Chief 
Monterey Fire Department, 2nd prize, 
hose contest 75 00 

Check No. 54, D. J. Houghton, tables 

for picnic 70 00 

Check No. 55, M. Harris, sundry goods 5 00 

Check No. 56, Miss Blandina Martinez, 

caps and dresses. Living Flag 2 00 

Check No. 57, Miss Frances Arano, 

dresses for Living Flag 14 00 



Check No. 58, Guadalupe Rico, car- 
riages and drayage II 50 

Check No. 59, W. C. Cochran, carriages 20 50 

Check No. 60, Manuel Diaz, labor 18 00 

Check No. 61, F. M. Hilby, sundry 

goods and charges 8 50 

Check No. 62, R. T. Serrano, labor 5 00 

Check No. 63, A. F. Rico, transfer 
service 5 25 

Check No. 64, Ignacio Laughlin, serv- 
ices as janitor 1480 

Check No. 65, Manuel Lewis, sundry 

mdse 2 80 

Check No. 66, A. C. Taylor, expenses 

San Francisco office 35 00 

Check No. 67, George Tripp, labor 5 00 

Check No. 68, H. A. Greene, sundry 
expenses, (see statement following 
recapitulation) 9 80 

Check No. 69, Diaz Brothers, refresh- 
ments 

Check No. 70, C. R. Few, carriages 

Check No. 71, Miss Josie Pray, dresses 
for Living Flag 

Check No. 72, J. E- Warren, labor 

Check No. 73, Geo. Albridge, ice and 
ice cream 

Check No. 74, J. B. Snively, telegrams 

Check No. 75, Wells, Fargo & Co., ex- 
pressage 

Check No. 76, Monterey Electric Light 
Co., wire 

Check No. 77, C. K. Tuttle, silver paper 

Check No. 78, Miss F. B. Orton, ex- 
penses ladies' reception committee... 

Check No. 79, C. H. Gomez, carriages.. 

Check No. 80, A. Berg, transfer service 

Check No. 81, S. J. Duckworth, testi- 
monial 150 00 

Total disbursements to July 10, 1896. ..$3339 19 
July 10, 1896, balance on hand 353 99 

I3693 15 
RECAPITULATION. 

July TO, 1866, receipts from all sources. .$3693 15 
July 10, 1896, disbursements to date $3339 '^ 

July 10, 1896, balance on hand % 353 99 

The following payments were made 

rector-General Greene from the fund 

him and accounted for by Check No. 14 

above statement : 

Lunch for girls working on caps for Liv- 
ing Flag 

Stars for Goddess of Liberty 

Expenses of trip to San Francisco 

Planing seats for grand stand 

Clearing half of Lyceum grounds 

Cups and basins for pavilion 

Expense of building road to picnic 
grounds 

Boy helping to tack up descriptive scrolls 

Rubber bands 

Evergreens 

Goddess costume 

Work on and lumber for float at wharf.. 

Transfer service on decorations 

Ferns 

Whitcomb Bros., labor 



7 
34 


75 
00 


4 
13 


00 
.50 


6 

8 


50 
58 


25 


80 


4 


75 
40 


8 
16 


75 
00 


I 


00 



by 1 


Di- 


vol 


ted 


in the 


3 40 


I 


00 


2 


00 


2 


50 


13 


00 




50 


10 


00 




25 




30 


2 


00 


16 


05 


46 


10 


6 


00 


I 


00 


3 


00 



Labor preparing boufires 3 00 

Labor preparing bonfires i 50 

Messenger 50 

Music I cx) 

Driver 4 00 

Cleaning pans and knives 2 00 

Paid Wm. Lemos, on account decora- 
tions 10 00 

Paid Edward Allen, on account picnic... 10 00 

Paid M. Ortins for sundry mdse 8 70 

Paid Wm. Lemos, account decorations... 62 00 



In addition to the cash balance as above (on 
deposit in the Bank of Monterey, Monterey), 
the Executive Committee has the outfit used 
at the picnic July 5th, and is now disposing of 
it at fair prices. It is expected that at least |8o 
will be realized from this source. 

The steps, float, and ticket ofl[ice constructed 
for the convenience of visitors to the warships 
during the celebration constitute au additional 
asset. 

Everything will be sold to the best possible 
advantage for the benefit of the celebration 
fund. 

A few small bills still remain unpaid and the 
Executive Committee has authorized Director- 
General Greene to satisfy them with the funds 
realized from the sale of committee propert}', 
as aforesaid, should they be presented to him 
before another committee meeting is held. 

The net balance will be reduced a moderate 
sum when payment has been made for the two 
souvenir banners ordered last evening for the 
U. vS. S. Philadelphia and Monadnock. This 
will be the last payment made by the Execu- 
tive Committee, the balance then remaining to 
be placed to the credit of said committee for 
celebration purposes in the future. 

For the information of all concerned, it may 
be well to close this report with the state- 
ment that no committee money has been 
drawn, or could have been drawn, by any per- 
son without a check signed by President T. J- 
Field and countersigned by Secretary fc>. J. 
Duckworth, an express direction to issue said 
check having been previously spread in full 
upon the minutes of the Executive Committee. 

Respectfully submitted, 
S. J. DUCKWORTH, 

Secretary Executive Committee, 
Semi-Centennial Celebration. 



Note. — In relation to the statement being 
made that it was asserted "that all of the 
money collected for or on account of the cele- 
bration just closed was collected from the peo- 
ple of the State under the pretext that it would 
be devoted towards defraying the expense of 
laying the corner-stone of the Sloat Monu- 
ment," etc. 

No such assertion was ever made by myself, 
and it was the first time that I ever heard of it 
until seeing it in print. It was expected, how- 
ever, that out of the money sent from San 
Francisco of $1,629, that $500 might be used 
for the monument, which latter amount had 
been contributed by firms whose principals 
were members of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion, and they were in favor of it as already 
stated . 

San Francisco county has no stone yet pro- 
vided to be represented in the monument. 

Mr. Hugh Craig, President of the Chamber 
of Commerce of San Francisco, who helped to 
raise the I1629 sent, expressed surprise that out 
of this money not a cent was used for the pro- 
viding the stone for San Francisco count)^ as 
its contribution to the Sloat Monument. 

The surplus remaining in the treasury of the 
local committee at Monterev from the San 
F'rancisco contribution sent, w'hich should 
have been returned to the San F'^rancisco 
Committee or the doi ois, we learn is to be 
expended in the purchase of flags to be pre- 
sented to the Philadelphia and the Monadnock 
by this clique at Monterey, assuming to act for 
the citizens of San F>ancisco without authority, 
and thus depriving our city of this honor and 
pleasure of so doing, if it desired : an act of 
presumption and cheek which only finds its 
parallel in usurpations already related in this 
Report. Neither the ofllicers or the crews of 
these vessels of war will be deceived by the 
acts of these men, and though they may accept 
the flags as a matter of courtesy, yet they will 
fully understand the motives animating the 
actors who expend other people's money with- 
out their authority and consent and who would 
take credit unwarrantedly for their veneered 
patriotism and thin liberality. 

Edwin A. Sherman, 

Chairman of Committee of Arrangements 
of Associated Veterans of the Mexican 
War. 



Resolution of Cbanks 

TO OUR 

Comrade major €(lwin K Sbcrman, 



Chairman of the Committee of Hrrangements of the dissociated Ueterans of the mexican Ular for 

the Celebration of the Tifticth Anniversary of the Raising of the Jimerican Tlag at 

monterey, and the taking Possession of California, by Commodore 

3ohn Sloat of the U. S. Haoy 3uly 7th, i$4t>. 

1>eld at monterey, California, !Iuly 7th, i$96. 



At the regular n:eetiiig of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War held on Thurs- 
day evening, July 9th, 1896, at their Hall, No 
22 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, California, 
among other business transacted the following 
action was taken : 

It was moved by Comrade J. C. Taylor, that 
a committee to be composed of past Presidents 
Comrades William L. Duncan, A. Andrews, 
Joseph Stewart, and past and present President, 
Sidney J. Loop, be appointed to draft and pre- 
sent to Comrade Edwin A. Sherman, resolu- 
tions of thanks expressing the appreciation 
and gratitude of this Association of Veterans of 
the Mexican War, for his valuable services ren- 
dered as Chairman of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements for the celebration of the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the raising of the American 
flag at Monterey, and the taking possession of 
California by Commodore John D. Sloat, on 
July 7th, 1846, which celebration was held at 
that place on July 7th, 1896. 

The motion being duly seconded, was unani- 
mously adopted. 

Signed, Sidney J. Loop, President. 

Attest : Wm. L. Duncan, Secretary. 

Hall of the Associated Veterans of the 
Mexican War, 

Thursday, September 20, 1896. 
To the President, Officers and Members of the 

Associated Veterans 0/ the Mexican War. 

Comrades : — Your committee to whom was 
assigned the pleasing duty of drafting resolu- 
tions of thanks to our Comrade, Major Edwin 
A. Sherman, chairman of the Committee of 
Arrangements for the celebration held at Mon- 
terey, on July 7 last, have performed the duty 
required of us, and in accordance with his 
wishes, have caused the same to be printed in 
the book containing the account of the celebra- 
tions published therein, instead of having them 
engrossed and framed, as we had it in contem- 
plation so to do. 

We therefore submit the following accom- 
panying resolutions as our report : 

Whereas: It is eminently just and proper 
that faithful services in the performance of duty 
should be duly recogr.ized at all times and in 
the general business affairs of life where compen 
.sation is made for such services rendered; yet 
when there is no other reward to be looked or 
hoped for than the approval of one's own con- 



science, at the end of a long and patient service 
often years in the arrangement of plans for a 
successful demonstration b}- the people in the 
marking of an epoch in the history of the 
American Republic, unparalleled in the annals 
of the world, and such long services having 
been rendered gratuitously at a great sacrifice 
of so much time and money for which latter 
compensation and reimbursement has been re- 
fused to be accepted in return by a comrade of 
the Associated Veterans of the Mexican War, 
who, prompted solely by a spirit of the purest 
patriotism, has devoted himself to a most noble 
object, that of commemorating the Semi-Cen- 
tennial Anniversary of American Occupation of 
California, and to indelibly mark the same, by 
laying the foundation stone of the base of a 
monument, which, when erected, shall, for all 
time, be the witness of a grateful, loyal, and 
liberty-loving people, to the memory of the 
faithful and patriotic officer and citizen who 
first planted the Stars and Stripes on these 
then far-off shores, Commodore John Drake 
Sloat of the U. S. Navy, who added an empire 
to our national domain. Such self denial and 
self-sacrificing devotion, is not only worthy of 
all praise, but deserves the expressed gratitude 
especially of all his comrades of the Veterans 
of the Mexican War, and the general thanks of 
the people of the State of California. And, 

Whereas : That we may the better recall to 
our memories some of the services he has ren- 
dered and that the people of the State of Cali- 
fornia may be made duly aware of the same, 
that public gratitude may also be extended to 
him which he so eminently deserves, we cite 
the following facts : 

Under the auspices of the Associated Veter- 
ans of the Mexican War, as chairman of the 
Committee of Arrangements, he inaugurated 
and successfully carried out the celebration of 
the Fortieth Anniversary of the Raising of the 
American Flag at Monterey and Occupation of 
California by Commodore John D. Sloat, of 
the U. S. Navy, which with the co-operaiion of 
the U. S. Government and the California pion- 
eers which he secured and made that event 
memorable in the annals of the State of Cali- 
fornia. 

He inaugurated and organized the Sloat 
Monument Association of California, and has 
served as its secretary without fee or reward for 
a period of over ten years. 

He successfully defended and maintained the 



lO 



feputalion and fair fanie of Commodore John 
Drake Sloat against lying traducers who 
assailed the character of the deceased, who 
could not speak for himself, and thus after long 
months of secret and open opposition he en- 
abled our Senator, the Hon. George C. Perkins, 
to successfully carry through the bill in the 
U. S. Senate making an appropriation of ten 
thousand dollars for the erection of the Sloat 
Monument at Monterey. 

He, by his personal influence and laborious 
correspondence, totally unaided, succeeded in 
arousing the spirit of American patriotism 
throughout the State, to the extent of having 
the Boards of Supervisors of the several coun- 
ties to provide stones for the base of the monu- 
ment and to send their representative young 
ladies to be present at the laying of the corner- 
stone. 

He made a journey to the city of Washing- 
ton at his own expense to secure the coopera- 
tion of the Secretary of War and Secretary of 
the Navy in the celebration of the Fiftieth An- 
niversary of the Raising of the American flag 
and taking possession of California by Commo- 
dore John D. Sloat of the U. S. Navy, which 
mission was crowned with success. 

Through his personal influence and efforts 
our treasury was aided, that its Relief Fund 
remained untouched and the Associated Vet- 
erans of the Mexican War were enabled to pro- 
ceed to Monterey and return from the late cele- 
bration at that place without drawing from the 
funds appropriated for the relief of our dis- 
tressed comrades. 

As chairman of the Committee of Arrange- 
ments of the Associated Veterans of the Mexi- 
can War, for the celebration of the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the Raising of the American 
flag at Monterey, he gave his time and means 
for a period of nearly a year and a half, and 
under the most trying and perplexing difficul- 
ties, and without any appropriations of moneys 
placed at his disposal whatever, he made with 
the assistance of the Army and Navy a success 
worthy of the Nation, of the Associated Veter- 
ans of the Mexican War, of the Pioneers of 
California and of the Sloat Monument Associa- 
tion in the grand historic event commemo- 
rated. 

In the bringing together of historic charac- 
ters — the man who actually raised the American 
flag at Monterey half a century before to raise 
it again; and the few survivors who landed 
with the forces under Commodore Sloat; those 
who served under Commodore Stockton and 
Colonel Fremont; the few survivors of the 
U. S. Army and of Stevenson's Regiment who 
served in California fifty years ago; and the 



battle-scarred veterans who served with our- 
selves under Generals Taylor, Scott and others, 
in the Mexican War. In the steps taken by 
him for the celebration of the Fiftieth Anni- 
versary of the Raising of the American flag at 
San Francisco, July 9th, 1896, by Captain 
Montgomery, of the U. S. Sloop of War Ports- 
mouth, as also the previous celebration at So- 
noma, of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Rais- 
ing of the Bear Flag at that place on June i4tli 
last, all of which deserves the highest commen- 
dation, gratitude and praise. Therefore be it 

Resolved — That we tender our Comrade, 
Major Edwin A. Sherman our sincere and 
heartfelt thanks for his long, patient, laborious 
and patriotic services given in behalf of the 
Associated Veterans of the Mexican War, 
extending over a long period of years; and that 
while he enjoys our highest esteem and regard, 
our confidence in his integrity and ability, he 
is justly entitled to the credit of having inaugu- 
rated and brought to a successful termination 
the celebrations already mentioned, and is de- 
serving the gratitude of the people of the State 
of California, for his patriotic devotion to her 
fair fame and the Nation's honor in the events 
which under his direction have been so auspi- 
ciously commemorated. 

Resolved — That we earnestly trust and fer- 
vently hope, that his days may be lengthened, 
and that he may live to finish and enjoy the 
fruits of his labors in the completion of the 
monument and the erection of the statue of 
Commodore John Drake Si,oat so well be- 
gun, and the foundatiou-stone laid, on the 
U. S. Military Reservation at Monterey, and 
that to this end he is deserving of the hearty 
support and cooperation of all the patriotic 
citizens, and it is to be hoped that all of the 
counties of the State of California will be fully 
represented by their stones to be placed in the 
base of the monument at Monterey. 

Resolved — That these Resolutions be spread 
upon the minutes of our Association, a copy 
presented to our Comrade, Major Edwin A. 
Sherman, chairman of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements, and a copj' of the same printed in 
the account to be published of our late celebra- 
tions. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

(Signed), 

J. C. Taylor, 

William L. Duncan, Past President. 
A. Andrews, Past President. 
Joseph Stewart, Past President. 
Sidney J. Loop, Past Pres. and Pres. 

Attest : Wm. L. Duncan, Secretary. 



Jlddenda. 



To our Comrades and Friends : 

Since the Supplemental Report of the 
Committee of Arrangements of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War was presented 
and printed, with the account of the celebra- 
tion at Monterey on July 7th, 1896, the follow- 
ing have been received from Admiral L,. A. 
BeardsIvEE, commanding the Pacific Station 
of the U. S. Navy. 

In regard to the mismanagers of the local 
committee at Monterey, he says : 

(Copy.) 
" Flagship Philadelphia," Pacific Station. 

San Francisco, October 21. 

My Dear Major Sherman : — Thanks for 
the blue and gold book. 

While I am unwilling to take sides in the 
differences which so unfortunately occurred to 
mar the harmony of the celebration, I do not 
hesitate to saj' that, whoever was responsible 
for the many blunders and discourtesies shown 
to visiting guests, and to myself and people 
under my command, was either a very rude 
man, or men, if more than one was respon- 
sible. 

I enclose copy of letter mailed to-day to Mr. 
Duckworth, and am. Yours truly, 

L. A. BeardslEE. 



(Copy.) 

"U. S. Flagship Philadelphia." 
San Francisco, Cal., October 21, 1896. 
Mr. S. J. Duckworth, Secretary Executive 

Committee, Setni - Centennial Celebration, 

Monterey, Cal. 

Dear Sir: — 1 learn from "Report on 
Committee of Arrangements of the Associated 
Veterans of the Mexican War," that from the 
funds contributed to be expended in items con- 
nected with the Semi Centennial celebration at 
Monterey on July 7, 1896, there is a certain por- 
tion set aside for the purchase of " two souvenir 
banners ordered last evening for the U. S. Ships 
Philadelphia and Monadnock." 

I have to request that as there is, and has 
been, among those who organized and man- 
aged the celebration, wide differences of opin- 



ion as to the proper distribution of the money 
collected, not one dollar of it shall be expended 
directly or indirectly on any of the forces 
under my command. 

I could not permit the acceptance of a ban- 
ner under the circumstances. I am, 
Yours truly, 

L. A. Beardslee, 
Rear Admiral U. S Navy. 



This letter was mailed to its destination on 
October 21st, 1896, and must have been re- 
ceived by the local committee at Monterey to 
whom it was sent. And yet in the face of it, 
the following absurd and ridiculous statement, 
and evidently intended to deceive their own 
people as well as others, is published one week 
later in the Monterey New Era. of October 
28th, 1896: 

" It has been necessary to cable to Lyons, 
F'rance, for the silk ot which the flags are to 
be made by the Jubilee Committee to the war 
ships Philadelphia, Monadnock and Monterey. 
It is of such superb and expensive quality that 
no American house keeps it in stock. The 
flags will be ready for presentation by Christ- 
mas." 

To give out such stuff to the people after 
receiving Admiral Beardslee's letter is wilful 
deception and unparalleled public meudacitj'. 

Common honesty would demand that the 
surplus amount of I300 unexpended of the 
$1629 sent down from San Francisco should be 
returned to that Finance Committee, that San 
Francisco county herself might provide a stone 
like the other counties of the State, and thus 
be represented in the Sloat Monument as it 
ought to be. San Francisc j is perfectly able 
and competent to disburse its own funds, with- 
out having such a committee as that at Mon- 
terey to misrepresent and presume to act for 
her. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 
Signed, Edwin A. Sherman, 
Chairman and on behalf of the Couimittee of 
Arrangements of the Associated Veterans 
of the Mexican War. 
Oakland, November i, 1S96. 



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